Bengaluru Residents Demand Urgent Infrastructure Fixes Amid Hazardous Roads and Footpaths
Residents in Horamavu and nearby areas of Bengaluru are grappling with perilous daily commutes due to broken footpaths, dug-up roads, and pervasive dust, making movement risky and accidents increasingly common. In response, the Horamavu–Ramamurthy Nagar Resident Welfare Associations collective has formally written to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) on Tuesday, urgently seeking funds to construct 50 kilometers of footpaths and update the solid waste management (SWM) micro plan, which currently relies on outdated 2017 estimates.
Years of Neglect and Incomplete Works
In a letter dated March 3, the associations highlighted several critical roads, including Horamavu–Kalkere–Rampura Main Road, Hennur–Horamavu Agara–NPS School Road, TC Palya Main Road, Ramamurthy Nagar Main Road, Babusapalya Main Road, and Banjara Main Road. Residents have cited years of neglect and incomplete asphalting following utility works, creating dangerous conditions for motorists and pedestrians alike.
Prakash Aradhys (50), a sales professional, shared his frustration: "Every area has damaged footpaths due to ongoing construction. We should not even call them footpaths; they are essentially drains covered with slabs. I recently tripped while walking, and for the last 3-4 years, nothing has improved. Drains are clogged, roads are damaged, and BWSSB digging for new connections has left unpaved stretches that raise dust. Women are tripping repeatedly—it's exhausting."
Safety Concerns and Environmental Issues
Sunil Kumar (44), former secretary of JR Amaze Apartments, added: "Roads near the Horamavu lake are in terrible shape, with one stretch having no proper road at all—just mud. With 4-5 schools in the area, this poses significant safety risks for children. The underpass near Babusapalya is largely completed but has been closed for months, causing traffic jams and turning into a garbage dumping site. Asphalting was neglected in some areas, and the lake remains in poor condition with no benches or maintenance."
Garbage Dumping and Official Inaction
Residents also reported that the Babusapalya RUB, which is non-operational, has become an unofficial garbage dumping and burning yard. Despite partial road tarring eight months ago, railway clearance is still pending, exacerbating the issue.
Shrikanth D, secretary of Mallappa Layout RWA, stated: "Officials are passing the buck while the area has turned into a garbage dump. Waste piles are left uncleared, and frequent burning makes the air unbearable. Despite repeated complaints, no action has been taken, severely affecting senior citizens and children. We are at a loss on how to get authorities to act."
Collective Advocacy for Change
Kochu Sankar, a representative of the RWAs collective, emphasized: "Shops and encroachments have left most roads without proper footpaths, making walking unsafe. In our three wards—Kalkere, Ramamurthy Nagar, and Formauti—about 10 large RWAs and several big apartment complexes, with many relying on footpaths, are suffering. Numerous residents have fallen and injured themselves, especially elders. Officials often discuss beautification, but outer areas like ours are neglected. This is the first time footpaths are being proposed here, and residents demand the same attention that other zones receive."
Official Response and Future Steps
Commenting on these pressing issues, a senior GBA East corporation official said: "We have taken note of the concerns raised by residents. We are currently awaiting grants, and once secured, we will address the issues as promptly as possible." This response highlights the bureaucratic delays that continue to hinder infrastructure improvements in these neglected neighborhoods.
