Unfinished storm water drainage project has been unattended for half a year.
Doddanekundi residents are dealing with foul smell, increase in traffic flow and safety problems for the last six months due to the stalled storm water drainage (SWD) construction. This project was initiated before the elections with the goal of alleviating flooding and improving drainage, said members of a local political party.
Vivek, a resident of Doddanekundi, said, “We’re forced to take longer routes to get to work and school, adding to our daily commute time and stress. Delivery services are also facing difficulties navigating the damaged roads and treacherous ditches.” Vivek added that the project needs to be completed urgently, not just for the convenience, but also for health and safety.
The residents have been grappling with the consequences of this stalled project, which has negatively impacted their health and hampered their daily routines.
Another angry resident of Doddanekundi, said, “It’s impossible to keep our windows open because the smell from the drain enters our homes.” He said that the stoppage of stormwater drain construction has led to various health issues in their area.
The lack of connectivity to Basavanagar, an adjacent locality, has intensified the isolation faced by Doddanekkundi residents. The disruptions to traffic flow and daily routines has resulted in delivery services refusing to enter the area.
Pointing to the fact that the area already has several civic challenges, Pratyush R, commented, “In Doddanekundi, we are already grappling with unauthorized structures and roads under construction. The halted storm water drain (SWD) has worsened the pre-existing challenges.”
Indira Belde, of Bengaluru NavaNirmana Party (BNP) Mahadevapura, commented on the lack of administrative planning and implementation of the civic projects. “Upon reaching out to ex-MLA Arvind Limbavali regarding the paused stormwater drain (SWD) project, we were informed that the current government’s alleged failure to allocate funds was the reason for the halt in the work. Then why did they commence significant projects valued at Rs. five crores, just before elections, despite being aware of the potential funding shortfall?” she asked.
Urban planning and infrastructure expert, Vikram Bhatt, emphasized the need for immediate prioritization of the stormwater drain project in Doddanekundi.
Bhatt stated, “Timely completion of critical civic projects is essential for the well-being and seamless functioning of the community. Local authorities must collaborate efficiently to ensure the mitigation of health hazards, traffic disruptions, and other challenges posed by the unfinished SWD.”
A well-executed plan and allocation of resources can swiftly resolve the issues and contribute to the overall improvement of the area’s infrastructure added Bhatt.
Assistant Engineer at Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Srikanth admitted that work was slow. He said, “we acknowledge the challenges faced by the residents of Doddanekundi due to the delayed stormwater drain project. We are actively reviewing the situation and working towards expediting the necessary approvals and funds to resume construction by the end of this month.”
