Deep seated and broken matters in Jaraganahalli

BANGALORE: In South Bangalore lies a small locality of a few thousand people. This area, Jaraganahalli, welcomed the decision of the extension of ‘Namma Metro’ to their roads. But the residents are now put under extreme discomfort due to the many problems that plague the area. Starting with broken benches in a park to large potholes on the road due to the Metro construction, they have faced it all.The park situated on the Kanakapura Main Road in the division of Jaraganahalli is left with no benches to speak of. Overgrown bushes and concrete is what greets you to the park. A few benches do not even have a seat.The others which have been blessed with a seat have no backrest. Most of them just lay broken or are crumbling to ruins. Residents say several complaints to the authorities have gone unnoticed.KG Sudheendra, a resident, informed City Express that the situation has caused most visitors severe hassles.He said, “The whole point of a park is to walk, exercise and stay fit. But if one gets tired, where are they suppose to go?” He further added that the elderly were the worst affected.Thangamma, an elderly citizen, asserted that, “I come here every morning for a walk. But I tire easily. I have no option but to return home to rest as there is no place to sit.” The residents as well as the commuters are facing a lot of problems due to the on-going metro work. The roads, due to the construction, have been left with deep craters and small pebbles lay strewn all over. The heavy inflow of vehicles causes long jams. Garbage from the markets close to Umar Bagh Layout has been disposed on footpaths. Stone slabs lie on the road making it accident prone for the travellers during the night.A storm water drain in the area exudes stench that makes it unbearable for people to pass through. A pedestrian, Reshma, remarked, “Walking through the area is really difficult. We are glad that the Metro is going to be located so close to our houses but I do wish that a more systematic approach had been adopted by the authorities.” Most of this lengthy road has been discarded with pipes throughout. Open drains that overflow during the monsoons is another dilemma that nearby low lying localities also face.Rahul, a resident of Yelachenahalli and a motorist who frequently uses the road, said, “Travelling through the road becomes a nightmare. It becomes frustrating to wait for several minutes to just get through this road and reach the sub-road that leads to my house.” Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike chief engineer of Bomanahalli Zone, AM Nayak said, “I will ensure that the concerned authorities look into the matter of the park benches immediately.As for the complications associated with the metro work, the metro officials will restore the region back once their work is completed.”