Bengaluru, 15 Sept

Residents of Mahadevapura zone are grappling with hazardous footpaths that pose serious risks to pedestrians, especially the elderly, children and people with disabilities. Poorly maintained or completely missing footpath slabs are forcing people to walk on busy roads, endangering lives. The residents have urged Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to prioritise footpath repairs.

Several key areas, including the stretch from Knightsbridge to Brigade Tech Gardens, Haralur Road and Sarjapur Road, are hazardous. Many footpaths are not only broken but also cluttered with garbage, and the missing drain covers turn these paths into traps. During rains, the blocked drains overflow, leaving behind pools of stagnant water, compounding the health risks.

Speaking to Salar News, Ayanthika R, a resident of Knightsbridge Apartments, Brookefield, said: “Walking from Knightsbridge to Maruti True Value showroom has become a daily hazard. Garbage trucks block the narrow streets, and the footpaths are lined with trash. BBMP only clears the garbage when we lodge complaints.”

Sandeep Kumar, a software engineer who is a resident of Trinity Acres and Woods, Sarjapur Road, said: “Right above the broken footpaths are wires connected to poles. This can be dangerous if they are electricity wires.”

Sarita Patil, a 69-year-old retired school teacher and a resident of August Grand Apartments on Sarjapur-Marathahalli road, said it is a nightmare during the night. “During the night, we cannot even see the spots where the footpaths are left open. My 72-year-old husband and I were close to having a mishap due to the open footpath slab,” she said.

The residents have joined forces with Bengaluru NavaNirmana Party (BNP) to demand that BBMP take some action on this.

BBMP said the repair work was getting delayed due to the shortage of maintenance funds. “The footpath maintenance funds had not yet been released due to which the contractors are not paid yet,” said M Lokesh, the Chief Engineer of Mahadevapura zone of BBMP. “We are awaiting clearance to disburse payments to contractors, after which repairs will commence.”

BNP leaders were not satisfied with the response and demanded immediate corrective measures “Pedestrian safety is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. BBMP must ensure that funds are utilised effectively for basic infrastructure like footpaths,”  Lalithamba BV, Governing Council Member and Leader of BNP told Salar News.

When Salar News approached Arvind Limbavali, the MLA of Mahadevapura, he was not available for comments on this issue. -Salar News