Date:25/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/25/stories/2007012523870300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

BMP blames bad road condition on litigation

Staff Reporter

A woman fell recently while walking in Srinivasnagar

BMP officials cite a court case involving the promoter of the layout for not asphalting the road

Residents say the other roads in the layout are asphalted

BANGALORE: Residents of 9th main road at ward no. 54 in Srinivasnagar have demanded that the mud road in front of their houses be asphalted.

The road, although only 250 metres long, has not been asphalted despite repeated requests to Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), residents' association vice-president M.C. Sridharan, told a press conference on Wednesday.

A few days ago, 60-year-old G.R. Ratna was holding her grandson by hand and walking on the road.

She stepped on a stone, twisted her leg and slipped. "I was holding him tight so that he would not fall. I fell and hurt my spinal cord," she said.

Transport woes

Other residents complained that it had become difficult for them to find transport to their houses, as autorickshaws refused to ply on their road.

"We cannot even let our children ride to tuitions on their bicycles," Sirisha, a mother and a resident.

The BMP authorities refuse to tar the road as that would amount to contempt of court.

The layout had been developed by Vishwabharathi Housing Cooperative Society, which was involved in litigation with the BDA.

But the residents ask, "Then how are the other roads in the area asphalted?"