Bengaluru: Wary of 600m ‘racing track’, residents of Jayamahal Extension demand speed breaker

BENGALURU: Residents of Jayamahal Extension have written several letters to the BBMP’s traffic engineering cell and traffic police, demanding that speed breakers be laid on the 600m stretch connecting Jayamahal Main Road and Nandidurg Main Road.
A resident and member of CIJMA, (Citizens’ Initiative for Jayamahal Area) said, “Ever since the road was whitetopped, the frequency of accidents went up significantly.The 600m stretch was nicely done with no speed breakers, but now it is being used by motorists as a racing track.”
An accident that occurred in the wee hours on Sunday spread panic among residents. They said motorists are speeding on this stretch because the roads it connects to are not in good shape.
Another CIJMA member said, “It can be really difficult to drive on the road. When motorists turn to 1 Main Jayamahal Extension, they tend to press the accelerator seeing the smooth stretch ahead.”
Whitetopping work on this road was completed early this year and since then, residents claimed least four accidents have occurred.
“Sunday’s was the second such accident in the last one month, where an overspeeding four-wheeler lost control and went over the pavement. Motorists tend to drive fast on the new road and sometimes, end up with accidents like this. Though no fatal accidents have been reported in recent times, the risk is always there. However, no complaints were filed in both the recent accidents,” a senior traffic police officer said.
The primary concern of residents is that the road is used by several senior citizens who enjoy taking their morning walks. With vehicles speeding on the stretch, it can be intimidating for them. “There is a diagnostic centre and a play school on the road. At least for the sake of that, the authorities should seriously think of installing speed breakers. I have two toddlers and I am scared of taking them near our apartment gate as vehicles move at such high speed,” another association member said.
Exasperated, residents have approached the Human Rights Protocol Considerations as well traffic police department.
The assistant executive engineer, BBMP, said, “Residents have approached the traffic police department. Once they inspect and give the green signal, they will raise a request with the Palike. We can then float a tender. So far, we have received no such request.”