Awash with garbage, this Bengaluru road has no place for pedestrians or motorists

Bengaluru: For over a year, residents of Ashwath Nagar, Vinayaka Layout, and Geddalahalli in north Bengaluru have been living in hazardous conditions, with little help from the authorities. The road that connects these areas to the Hennur-Bagalur Main Road has become nearly unusable, with piles of garbage and construction debris making it dangerous for both pedestrians and motorists.
This 1km stretch is a vital link for working professionals, schoolchildren, and emergency vehicles. Its current condition poses a serious safety risk, particularly for children and the elderly. According to residents, the deteriorating state of the road is due to ongoing track-laying work between Yelahanka and Channasandra as part of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project.
Residents remain stuck in limbo as railway authorities have blocked all clean-up efforts, citing jurisdictional issues. This has also led to local civic bodies refusing to intervene.
Jayashree Ananth S, a 49-year-old resident of Victoria Layout, shared her frustration: "In the one year I've lived here, I've never seen the road clean, except maybe when officials or politicians come around. It's a constant headache for us. We're even afraid to let our kids go out. The garbage piling up creates a terrible stench, and navigating this stretch has become extremely difficult."
"When our building plan was approved, the map showed a proper road. We even tried to repair it ourselves, but the railway authorities stopped us and never did anything themselves. It's fine if they have work going on, but they should at least ensure the road is usable," she added.
Despite numerous complaints to the local MLA, BBMP, and railway authorities, residents say no concrete action has been taken. RS Pinto, president of Sri Balaji Signature Owners Welfare Association, which represents 160 flats near the affected stretch, said, "We've approached the authorities countless times, but nothing has changed. The road is in terrible condition, garbage isn't collected, and residents are at risk. The MLA claims it is a railways road, but the railways refuses to take responsibility."
In Dec 2024, locals raised Rs 12 lakh to install streetlights themselves. Yet, the road remains littered with waste, posing health and safety risks.
Girish S, a resident and businessman, said, "The smell and filth on the road are unbearable. It's unsafe for children, senior citizens, and even emergency vehicles. The situation is only getting worse." He added that although civic officials had promised a clean-up recently, nothing was done. "Both BBMP and the local MLA are fully aware of the problem, but no one is taking concrete action."
A senior BBMP official acknowledged the issue and told TOI: "We're aware of the complaints. Garbage collection has been stalled for a while because of unloading issues, and no vehicle has been assigned to the area. We're working on it and will ensure the road is cleaned by Saturday, with regular garbage collection moving forward."
Meanwhile, a railways spokesperson denied blocking any clean-up efforts: "The public is using railways land next to the tracks for vehicular access, though it's not an official road. This land belongs to the railways. Debris and construction waste are being dumped here at night by unknown individuals. Suburban rail work is ongoing along this stretch and is being carried out by Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Company."