Need for immediate planning as traffic, footpath, drainage problems on the rise in Padmanabhanagar

BENGALURU: Unlike other constituencies in Bengaluru, the Padmanabhanagar assembly segment does not have largescale demands. It is only in the last decade that mushrooming of residential layouts and establishments has thrown up issues such as traffic congestion, walkability and inadequate drainage.

Some of Padmanabhanagar’s localities such as Kumaraswamy layout and ISRO layout have ample open and green spaces while areas such as Katriguppe, Ilyasnagar, Kaverinagar and Hittamandu are densely populated and have narrow roads. After the construction of a flyover on the outer ring road at Chennamma Circle, residents say, traffic congestion has considerably reduced.

Prabhakar Rao, a resident of Padmanabhanagar, said “All that we expect from elected representative is to draft a policy that restrains massive urbanisation. Over the years, buildings are being built while regulations are not stringent enough,” he said. He mentioned overflowing manholes during monsoon as one of the problems in his ward.


N.S Mukund, president of the Citizens Action Forum, said the government should focus on building walkable footpaths, installation of street lights and better facilities for senior citizens. “In the last three assembly elections, our association had handed over a charter of demands to the candidates. They used to agree but none of our demands were fulfilled. This time, we have asked them to list out their plans for the constituency. And we will decide our votes based on their vision,” he said.

POLITICAL WINDS

The assembly segment, which comprises eight BBMP wards, has a voter population of 2.67 lakh. Seven wards are represented by the BJP in the council while the Congress has only one candidate.

Former deputy Chief Minister R Ashok of the BJP has tasted two consecutive victories and continues to command support in the constituency, the Congress and JD(S) compete for the second place.