The recent rains have left the unfinished underbridge in Kadugodi, East Bengaluru, flooded, with the picture of a submerged tractor providing the apt summary of its abject condition.
But thousands use the underpass, yet to be officially opened to the public, for lack of alternative routes. “In fact, all underpasses should be designated as rainwater-harvesting projects,” gibed a citizen on Facebook.
Commuters have been using an alternative road even as the underpass was being built. “The muddy road has become unusable in rain,” said Akuri Nagina, a resident of Kadugodi who traverses the route regularly. “We’ve no option but to use the underpass. Also, only two-wheelers are motorable on the road.”
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) takes no blame for the condition of the underpass since the drainage work is not complete.
“The railways is building the underpass and is yet to hand it over to us. The engineers aren’t done with the drainage, which is the reason for the waterlogging,” said a BBMP official who wished to be anonymous.
The underbridge is located on the stretch linking Kadugodi and Channasandra junction, the main link to Hope Farm, Hoskote, Devangonthi and Chikka Tirupati. Preliminary work on the bridge began three years ago, but the construction started in earnest only last year.
At Doddanekkundi
Last year, the waterlogged Doddanekkundi railway underbridge posed a serious danger to commuters. Fire and emergency services personnel were deployed to save schoolchildren from the bus submerged in the flooded underpass.
Residents fear that the bridge could once again prove to be dangerous this year to commuters. “This is the sample of the best engineering we’ve in Bengaluru,” said a citizen volunteer associated with Whitefield Rising.
Kundalahalli underpass
The Kundalahalli underpass construction began only recently and commuters are already dreading about the engineering disasters. “I hope the under-construction underpass is taken care of, unlike the others. I don’t see any provision to let the rainwater drain rather than flood the structure,” said a commuter.