Bengaluru Residents Demand Action On Wider Roads, Quality Roads In Varthur, Balagere And Panathur

Residents of Varthur-Balagere and Panathur, areas undergoing rapid development, organized a peaceful protest on Saturday, demanding improvements to their long-neglected roads and infrastructure.

Their primary demands include widening the congested Panathur S-Cross road, causing severe traffic woes affecting daily commuters and local businesses, as well as an enhancement in road quality.

Despite initial plans to expand the S Cross road and construct an additional vent, the project remains unfinished, plunging residents into daily hardships.

Frustrated by the stagnant situation, residents have taken matters into their own hands, organizing a protest today. This echoes similar protests from 2019, and now, four years later, the issues persist with no visible improvements. Despite residing in sizable apartment complexes, residents still lack fundamental amenities.

The unrelenting traffic jams lead to delayed arrivals at workplaces and schools. The recent shutdown of Chroma Road further exacerbated the situation, leaving commuters with a single route through the RUB, leading to extensive waiting times.

In October, the Mahadevpura Task Force (MTF) highlighted that land acquisition issues obstructed the completion of approach roads to the Panathur underpass.

Last month too, residents, who feel that public infrastructure hasn't kept up with rapid development, staged yet another protest, demanding Metro connectivity, road expansions, and swift completion of crucial infrastructure projects. They emphasized the plight faced by school-going children due to inadequate infrastructure.

With an estimated 25,000 apartments in the region, residents emphasized the urgency to finalize the widening of the S-Cross road and the railway under-bridge in Panathur, including proper drainage systems.