Garbage dumped under metro pillars turns Bannerghatta Road stretch into stinking blackspot

Even as Namma Metro’s much-awaited Pink Line construction progresses along Bannerghatta Road, residents are grappling with a problem beneath the elevated pillars: heaps of garbage being dumped illegally, turning the stretch near Gurappanapalya into an eyesore and health hazard.

Local residents allege that the problem has worsened over the past two months, as piles of mixed waste continue to accumulate daily under the metro corridor. “Every spot is turning into a garbage bin,” said Ravi Prasad, who lives in an apartment near the stretch. “A huge amount of garbage is being dumped daily and the authorities have completely neglected the spot. Despite repeated complaints, no one has cleared it,” Mr. Ravi added.

From Vega City Mall to Gurappanapalya, the under-construction Pink Line pillars have become a convenient dumping ground for residents, shopkeepers, and passers-by. Adding to the mess, unauthorised posters, stickers, and advertisements have been pasted across several pillars, further defacing the newly built infrastructure.

The locals pointed out that the civic body’s garbage collection in surrounding areas is irregular, leading to people disposing of waste on the roadside. They also allege that the metro construction sites lack proper barricading and waste management, allowing opportunistic dumping by nearby residents and shops.

Rahul Kumar, another resident of the area, said that the problem is not limited to waste. “Even sticking posters on metro or flyover pillars is forbidden, but these structures are filled with advertisements. During the metro construction, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) should install barricades or fencing to prevent people from dumping garbage and creating blackspots. In Bengaluru, most places under flyovers are either used for parking or for dumping waste. Now, the same thing is happening under the new metro pillars,” he said.

The residents said the dumping mostly happens during the night, making it difficult for authorities to trace offenders. “At night, people throw garbage on the road or even on the median under the metro line. The stretch stinks, and it becomes impossible to even cross the stretch in the evenings. Both BMRCL and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) need to monitor these areas properly. The problem keeps recurring because there’s no regular enforcement,” said Lavanya H., a resident of Gurappanapalya.

Despite repeated clean-up drives, the residents said the problem keeps resurfacing due to lack of sustained vigilance. “With metro construction expected to continue for several more months, we demand a long-term solution, including CCTV cameras, barricades, and dedicated waste bins to ensure that the metro infrastructure is not exploited,” Ms. Lavanya added.

When contacted, a senior GBA official admitted that garbage blackspots are a persistent issue under metro corridors and flyovers. “We have deployed marshals in several such locations to prevent illegal dumping. They are instructed to penalise those found throwing waste near metro pillars or along the roads,” the official said.

“Recently, we cleared the garbage dumped under the Bannerghatta Road metro stretch. We are planning stricter enforcement,” official added.