On Gandhi Jayanti, 400 residents of Haralur Road in Bengaluru held a peaceful walk to highlight poor civic infrastructure. Participants pointed out broken roads, open manholes, and waste issues. MLA Manjula Limbavali joined them to see these problems firsthand. Residents hope this walk leads to quick action on their concerns.
Residents of Haralur Road and surrounding neighbourhoods in Bengaluru came together on Gandhi Jayanti for a peaceful civic walk to highlight the deteriorating infrastructure, traffic bottlenecks, sanitation concerns and safety hazards affecting the area.
The walk, which started at 9 a.m. from Ozone Evergreen Apartments, covered approximately two km and ended near Balaji Temple on DAST road. Around 400 people took part in the walk.
Upon the request from the residents, MLA Manjula Limbavali joined the walk midway and visited several locations along the Haralur Road where citizens pointed out their concerns and the challenges they encounter every day.
MLA Manjula Limbavali joining the peaceful walk with the residents of Haralur Road in Bengaluru on Friday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Damaged and poorly maintained roads, severe bottlenecks, broken footpaths, open manholes, and dangerous sewage openings were pointed out during the walk. Many locations that lacked inadequate civic infrastructure and posed risks for pedestrians, two-wheelers and motorists were flagged by the residents.
Absence of a properly managed and consistent waste-management system was yet another major concern. As multiple garbage blackspots were seen along the road, citizens expressed concerns about the impact of unhygienic surroundings on sanitation, public health and the environment.
Residents of Haralur Road highlighting the poor civic infrastructure while taking part in the peaceful civic walk, in Bengaluru on Friday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Among the key demands raised by residents were repair and improvement of roads, removal of bottlenecks, restoration of pedestrian footpaths, covering of open manholes and sewage openings, improved drainage, systematic garbage collection and disposal, and a more effective waste management system.
"The objective is not to protest against any individual or political party, but to bring the ground realities directly to the attention of the elected representative and seek meaningful action on long-pending civic problems," said a participant.
Children sending a message highlighting the woes of civic infrastructure, as they took part in the peaceful civic walk, on Haralur Road, in Bengaluru on Friday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Noting that the rapid growth of residential communities and increasing population along the Haralur Road corridor has put enormous pressure on civic infrastructure, they demanded that infrastructure and civic services need to keep pace with the area's rapid urbanisation.
"We hope that the concerns raised during the peaceful walk will lead to concrete, time-bound action from the civic authorities concerned," they said in a release.
The procession was coordinated with the participation of several resident volunteers from societies such as Springfields, Prestige Ferns Residency, Sobha Classic, and Ozone Evergreen, among others.