Pai Layout is not just a piece of pie

BANGALORE: Pai Layout is a locality which you would probably not see unless you have a really good observation. Located just off the Old Madras Road, it is an area known for its low rise apartments which comprise nearly 70 per cent of the locality.Amidst these buildings lie the broken roads, the open drains and the scattered stone slabs that the residents are tired of.A walk through the area reveals that while the first few roads have been quite well maintained despite them being short dead ends, the real problem starts with 12th Cross onwards. The worst affected are 16 ‘A’ to ‘D’.Muddy roadsThe roads here have never witnessed the sight of a road roller. Most of them are muddy and strewn with pebbles and small stones. A visitor, Jane Maria, voiced her grievances. She remarked, “My friend lives in the area.Its like you are trekking or walking through a hilly terrain.There are ups and then there are downs. You might get a gash across your knee but you still need to keep walking until you reach the house.” Her sentiments best explained the plight of those living in here.Roads full of potholesMost roads have huge potholes whose condition has been made worse by the recent rains. They are water logged and commuters are predisposed to accidents.An auto driver, Manju, asserted, “Most of our customers ask to be dropped right in front of their houses. But with roads such as these, we end up being the victims as our autos get severely affected.Everytime I have to drop a customer here, my auto starts squueking afterwards.” Open drains everywhereDrains throughout the locality have been left open.Flies surround these drains which in turn strikes fear in the hearts of the parents who say that they are scared to let their children out due to the health hazards associated with the insects and the rise in cases of dengue and malaria.Hop skip and jumpMost residents in the 16th ‘B’ Cross have access to their houses in the form of stone slabs. A few roads too, in the area are connected to the rest of the locality through just a stone slab. An elderly citizen said that she was forced to take the next street as she couldn’t cross the road on just a strip of boulder.Slum problemsAt the end of 16th ‘A’ Cross are a few ‘houses’ built out of jute bags and plastic covers.A slum dweller, on the condition of anonymity questioned the authorities on why they have been left to live under such conditions.Lokendra D, another resident mentioned that the area has no temples or parks and that there is only filth all around. “We need your help to highlight our agony and suffering due to BBMP apathy and negligence since last 8 years. We are asked to pay property taxes equal to developed areas without fail. However, for us, RWA, local corporator, MLA and the BBMP commissioner, all turn a deaf ears to our several complaints," he said.Building mattersThe BBMP has begun the construction of several drain passages. The major problem associated with it is the time that it seems to be taking and the approach are taking towards it. Heaps of sand lie on the pedestrian walks unattended.Authorities viewsThe local corporator of the area, AN Purushotam, didn’t deny the sorry state of affairs in the area but he also added he was taking several initiatives to make sure that the people didn’t suffer. He said, “We have already begun the sanitary work and are waiting for the rains to stop so as to begin work on the roads.The roads will be tarred as soon as the monsoons end.”