Between Banashankari and Yelachenahalli, the footpaths that were relaid last year are structurally sound, but residents say they are frequently used as dumping grounds for garbage. Roads along this stretch have been asphalted, but the problems intensify beyond Kanakapura Metro station.From there on, footpaths are broken, uneven, encroached upon, or missing cobblestones altogether. When TOI mentioned the cost of the project to a few shopkeepers, they responded that the quality of work does not reflect the Rs 130-crore expenditure. In several locations, garbage covers nearly half the footpath, forcing pedestrians to walk on the carriageway.Debris such as concrete chunks, mud, and large slabs are also found strewn across footpaths in Thalaghattapura and Doddakallasandra, with pedestrians seen dodging obstacles amid moving traffic.The 8km stretch from Banashankari Metro station to Silk Institute Metro station — a key corridor with Metro connectivity and heavy BMTC bus movement — was taken up as part of the flagship programme of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (now Greater Bengaluru Authority). About Rs 130 crore was allocated to develop it into a model urban corridor with uniform carriageways, accessible footpaths, cycle lanes, and allied infrastructure. Work commenced in June 2024.According to residents, visible improvements are largely limited to the first 3km, with progress thinning out further along the corridor. Many also flag poor execution and prolonged inconvenience due to dug-up sections.Despite repeated assurances, locals say the project is far from complete, raising questions over timelines and quality control in the mega infrastructure exercise.Ashok Kumar, a 24-year-old working at a fancy dress store in Doddakallasandra, said: “I’ve worked here for the past four years, and the footpaths are always uneven, or the cobblestones are out. I never saw any work being done other than garbage being cleared by pourakarmikas. The footpath work is being done beyond Kanakapura station, but we don’t know whether it will be done here as well.”Almost done with footpaths: OfficialsOfficials from B-Smile, which is executing the project, say footpaths and street lighting are being worked on, with the footpath work complete except on a 1km stretch near the NICE Road junction.A senior B-Smile official said: “Footpath work on only a 1km stretch is left near the NICE Road junction, and we’ll soon complete it as well. Coming to garbage, laying footpaths is our job; maintaining them should be with a solid waste management body, for which we are not responsible.”
