Slug: Walkers in distress
CH NEWS
BENGALURU
Jalahalli Cross is one of Bengaluru’s busiest transport hubs, carrying thousands of vehicles every hour and connecting commuters to the Metro, BMTC services and inter-city buses. Yet, for pedestrians, the junction has become a daily obstacle course marked by missing footpaths, unsafe bus stops and neglected civic infrastructure.
On the Tumakuru Road stretch opposite Jalahalli Metro station, one side of the road has no footpath. The roadside has effectively turned into an informal bus bay where BMTC, KSRTC and private buses stop or park, forcing commuters to navigate through buses and moving traffic. The uneven surface, strewn with gravel and stones, makes walking especially difficult for senior citizens, children and persons with disabilities.
Ironically, the designated bus shelter nearby remains largely unused, surrounded by garbage. Passengers often have no option but to step onto the carriageway to board buses.
Conditions are equally poor along the Peenya Ring Road, where four bus shelters have become unusable due to accumulated waste, damaged footpaths and misuse as public urinals. A makeshift autorickshaw stand further blocks the limited pedestrian space available.
Barely 100 metres away, however, the contrast is striking. A stretch upgraded under the B-SMILE project features smooth white-topped roads and wide, continuous footpaths, highlighting how improved pedestrian infrastructure can transform public spaces when executed consistently.
Towards Dasarahalli, one side of Tumakuru Road has no footpath at all, while the other is encroached upon by autorickshaws, parked two-wheelers and shopfront extensions. Vegetable market waste lines sections of the roadside, reducing already limited walking space.
Subroto Mukherjee Road presents another hazard, with damaged drain covers, missing concrete slabs and exposed drains posing risks to pedestrians.
A long-awaited underpass sanctioned under the Chief Minister Nagarothana scheme in 2017-18 remains stalled despite partial land acquisition. Eight years later, construction has yet to begin.
The delay also reflects an administrative challenge. Jalahalli Cross falls under the jurisdictions of both Bengaluru North and Bengaluru West city corporations, resulting in fragmented responsibility and slow implementation of civic projects.
With thousands of commuters using the junction every day, residents say basic infrastructure such as continuous footpaths, dedicated bus bays, proper waste management and coordinated civic action can no longer be delayed. Until then, one of Bengaluru’s busiest intersections will continue to prioritise vehicles while leaving pedestrians to fend for themselves.
