Bengaluru: Fed up with years of dust, silt and neglected roads, residents of Balagere, Panathur and Varthur in east Bengaluru spent Saturday cleaning a 100-metre stretch between Balagere T-Junction and Varthur police station, removing a full tractor-load of silt within hours.Between 30 and 40 volunteers — many of them IT professionals — gathered early in the morning with basic tools and money raised through crowdfunding to rent a tractor and cleaning equipment. The three-hour drive, residents said, revealed the extent of neglect on the busy sub-arterial road, where silt had piled up because of the prolonged absence of mechanical sweeping.Commuters and residents alleged that sweeping machines, meant to regularly clean major and sub-arterial roads, had not been deployed in the area for a long time.
Thick layers of silt along the road edges were stirred up by every passing vehicle, triggering respiratory issues and dust allergies.Shwetha, a Balagere resident, said, “We have no clarity on whether sweeping machines are being used here at all or where the newly proposed machines are and when will they be put to use. School buses halt on this stretch every day and children end up inhaling dust and silt. Where is the tax money going when basic civic issues are also not taken up?”Anand, another Balagere resident who joined the clean-up, said the tractor-load of silt collected from just 100 metres was alarming. “If this much silt had accumulated on such a short stretch, imagine the condition of the entire corridor. These roads have clearly been left unattended for years,” he said.Yet another resident of Belagere, Tejan Roy (name changed), said: “With the rise in accidents leading to injuries and fatalities from potholes and damaged roads, we are scared for our safety and that of our children and elders. Despite govt encouragement, civic bodies remain in a state of slumber, and taxpayers are paying the price.
It’s disheartening to hold on to hope in a system where roadside debris is common, and authorities ignore basic cleanliness and air quality.
We urge the govt to take action and hold authorities accountable for taxpayer money.”According to residents, the issue goes beyond hygiene. Silt-covered edges, potholes, and damaged road surfaces have caused frequent skidding incidents and near misses, with a recent accident involving a tech worker increasing their concern. They are calling for civic agencies to ensure regular mechanical sweeping, debris removal, and timely road repairs, stating that citizen-led clean-ups cannot replace institutional responsibility.
