Ganganagar underpass ceiling chips off, leaves motorists jittery

BENGALURU: The underpass on Ballari Road at Ganganagar near the HMT Bhavan is in a poor condition with its ceiling showing signs of wear and tear.

The structure in north Bengaluru, which is less than a decade old, is used by motorists coming from Sanjaynagar and heading towards Mehkri Circle and also by vehicles coming from central business district areas and moving towards Ganganagar and RT Nagar. The underpass can be accessed via service roads but only by two-wheelers and light motor vehicles. With the ceiling chipping off, scales are landing on motorists. The sorry state of the underpass is instilling fear in motorists. During heavy rain, water can be seen seeping from the ceiling and droplets fall on two-wheeler riders inconveniencing them.

Recently, a rider noticed chips from the ceiling falling on the road. “I am a frequent commuter as I stay in Ganganagar. A large flake fell in front of me, forcing me to stop,” said Utkarsh S, a student.

The underpass gets filled with knee-deep water whenever it rains, causing traffic snarls on the service road. Though the structure has been built in a way to drain out the excess water, it takes longer than usual. “Every time it rains, it becomes difficult to ride through it,” said Bhavesh Jain, a resident of Hebbal.

“Our team is looking into the matter. We have ensured that all underpasses are connected to sub-arterial drains. Areas which still witness waterlogging will be identified and the problem will be dealt with,” said mayor Sampath Raj, adding: “The ceiling will be plastered soon.”