The footpath near the Kengeri bus station has been dug up to install cables. The area does not have a warning sign, either.
The ongoing underground electric cable installation on a footpath just short of the Kengeri Bus Stop has put pedestrians at risk. The installation is being carried out without any sign board warning people of the danger that lies ahead.
The installation of underground electric cable wire by the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) has been going on for six days from Sept. 17The footpath is right in front of the bus stop, so many people use it every day.
Vikash, who takes a bus from the Kengeri Bus Stop to go to work in Bidadi said, “It is very careless of the authority to leave the cracks open after digging for installing the cables, especially without any caution board. Anyone can fall into the pit.” He demanded the government take appropriate action against the contractors responsible.
“I saw an old man struggling to walk on the footpath,” said a man who uses the bus stop daily for his commute to and from his office. He was concerned about children’s safety as well as he saw school children using the cracked footpath. A medical shop owner whose shop is next to the footpath said, “On Sept. 17, the labourers came and left the cable wires all over the footpath. Earlier, they said the work would be finished by evening but it is still in progress.” When he asked the labourers to expedite the process, they said it is getting delayed as they were busy installing cables at other places.
The assistant engineer of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) department, Upanagar, said, “The purpose of installing underground electric cables is to avoid clusters of hanging cables and wires overhead.” However, he also informed that the work is not undertaken by BBMP. “It is BESCOM which is responsible for the underlying cable installation work.”
An engineer from BESCOM said that the installation work could take another week or more to complete. Adding to that, he said, “Utility ducts reduce the need to dig up roads by multiple companies as all can use the duct for their cables. He further said, “The cost of a utility duct when installed by the government is provided by the National Highway Authority and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation. The use of ducts will avoid further road digging and damage.” He acknowledged the problem faced by pedestrians due to the dug up footpath and no ‘in progress’ sign board.
A chief town planner said, “The area comes under BBMP and the work is happening under its jurisdiction so it is their responsibility also to check on BESCOM. There should be someone to monitor the work and make sure it does not cause inconvenience to people.”
