Bengaluru's High-Density Corridor Project Sparks Public Outrage
Residents of south Bengaluru are demanding answers. They want to know what happened to the massive funds allocated for a major road revamp project. The ambitious Rs 130-crore high-density corridor initiative promised to transform Kanakapura Road. Instead, it has delivered chaos and disappointment.
Promises Broken, Problems Multiplied
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike launched the project in June 2024. Officials aimed to create uniform-width roads along Kanakapura Road, Old Madras Road, and Bannerghatta Road. The plan included clean, accessible footpaths and dedicated cycle lanes. Reality tells a very different story on Kanakapapura Road.
Footpath construction stopped after just 2-3 kilometers. Work beyond Yelachenahalli remains completely pending. Narrow carriageways and rampant encroachments now plague the area. Traffic issues have intensified rather than improved. Residents feel betrayed by the incomplete planning and poor execution.
Voices from the Community
Padmanadhan J, a 77-year-old apartment president, shared his concerns. "The cycle lane should serve cyclists, but hardly anyone uses it," he stated. "Two-wheelers ride on footpaths, endangering pedestrians. Broken footpaths force people into lanes crowded with bikes and illegally parked vehicles."
He pointed out a bitter irony. A 'zero tolerance zone' board stands at the Sarakki signal. Beneath it, residents witness constant traffic violations. Wrong-side driving and triple riding without helmets occur regularly.
Keseari Prasad, a 74-year-old resident, recalled early warnings. "We told officials the cycle path would become a parking space," he said. "They insisted their studies supported the design. We argued that narrowing the road would increase congestion. They claimed traffic moves faster on a six-lane road. Traffic has only worsened now."
Prasad suggested a practical solution. Proper footpaths and a dedicated two-wheeler lane would allow wider vehicles to use other lanes efficiently.
Eighteen Years of Disheartening Decline
Sudha Delawadi, a JP Nagar resident, expressed deep frustration. "They promised a fully planned cycle lane with a proper budget," she remarked. "Work stopped after just 2 kilometers. Footpaths now lie buried under concrete and remain poorly maintained."
Delawadi highlighted the unnecessary parking area. Kanakapura Road already suffers from severe congestion. Unsafe footpaths force people to use vehicles for short distances. The cycle track never materialized. The stretch from Banashankari to Yelachenahalli Metro now serves as a parking lot.
"I've lived here for 18 years," she said. "It's disheartening to see roads, footpaths, and civic management in such a terrible state."
Official Inaction and Buck-Passing
Abdul Aleem from Changemakers of Kanakapura Road summarized the situation. "Crores were meant for uniform-width roads, clean footpaths, and new streetlights," he stated. "What we see on the ground is very different. Only the first 2-3 kilometers of footpaths exist. Where pavements do exist, parking space has been provided for commercial establishments."
Aleem confirmed that work beyond Yelachenahalli has not progressed. Repeated objections through letters and meetings yielded no results. Follow-ups produced no movement. The project urgently needs corrections to meet its promised standards.
Officials engaged in classic buck-passing. Greater Bengaluru Authority's South corporation stated the project falls under Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited. BSMILE officials claimed they had no information about the makeover project. This lack of accountability leaves residents feeling abandoned and angry.
The Rs 130-crore project stands as a stark symbol of failed urban planning. Bengaluru's citizens continue to navigate incomplete footpaths, misused cycle lanes, and illegal parking. Their questions about allocated funds remain unanswered. The chaotic corridor serves as a daily reminder of broken promises and systemic failures.
