As Bengaluru's Palace Guttahalli Road turns commuters' nightmare, residents slam civic inaction
Bengaluru: What was once a key connector between Palace Guttahalli and Sankey Road has now turned into what locals sarcastically call a "suspension test track" — a crater-ridden, slush-filled stretch that has remained dug up and treacherous for over five months.
The 250-metre stretch on VS Raju Road was undergoing road and sewage pipeline work. But what started as a developmental project has devolved into a daily nightmare for motorists and pedestrians. "It's like navigating a lunar surface. Do ward engineers need GPS to find it?" scoffed a commuter on X. On any given day, motorists can be seen swerving dangerously, trying to dodge potholes, while pedestrians attempt circus-like acrobatics to get across the battered road.
Despite being a major link used by hundreds daily, the road continues to lie in disrepair with potholes, mini-craters, and muddy patches becoming the new normal. With monsoon arriving, waterlogging and overflowing mud have made matters worse, forcing residents to use parallel roads or risk injury navigating the mess.
Vijaykumar R, a frequent commuter, shared his frustration: "The whole road is filled with potholes.
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They started this work over six months ago, but for more than two months now, the condition has been unbearable."
Shashvathi B, a student who often uses the road, said pedestrian movement has become almost impossible. "We're supposed to hop, skip, and jump just to reach the main road. Why can't BBMP act fast?"
Local shopkeepers say business has taken a hit as footfall has dropped sharply over the past few months. A chaat vendor, Rajesh Kumar, said that his business dropped from Rs 3,000 a day to just Rs 1,700 owing to a lack of customers. "There's so much dust because of the ongoing works that the customers don't want to come. They worry that dust will enter the food and cause them infections."
Despite repeated complaints, BBMP is yet to restore the road. BBMP officials said the delay is because of pipeline relocation and coordination with BWSSB.
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