Jurisdictional confusion leaves Bayalu Basaveshwara Nagar road in the dark

In western Bengaluru, residents of Bayalu Basaveshwara Nagar and Kommaghatta Phase 1 are suffering due to inadequate lighting infrastructure on a key connecting road, with jurisdictional ambiguity delaying action.

The 500-metre stretch of Bayalu Basaveshwara Nagar Main Road serves as a key link, providing connectivity to different phases of the Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda Layout (NPKL) as it runs through the layout. However, the stretch has now turned into a garbage dumping hotspot.

A portion of the stretch’s sides is filled with garbage, with vegetation growing on both sides of the road. However, a major concern is the non-operational streetlights, which pose safety issues.

Madhusudhan, a resident of NPKL, explained that the stretch is also narrow, and travelling at night increases the risk of accidents, as most of the road is unlit.

“If a car comes at a decent speed with high beams, an accident is inevitable. Besides, the garbage spilling onto the road also forces commuters to move towards the centre, increasing the risk,” he said. “During nighttime, it increases theft possibilities as the road is accessed by many residents. Even in the evenings, people go for a walk along the stretch,” he said.

According to a Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) letter accessed by The Hindu, the issue was flagged by NPKL residents during a grievance redressal meeting.

On September 9, the BDA wrote to the Sulikere Panchayat stating that it had verified the location of the stretch flagged by residents for non-functional streetlights and found that it fell under the panchayat’s limits. The BDA noted that commuters and residents were facing problems due to the lighting issues and urged the panchayat to take action. However, Sulikere Panchayat officials say the stretch does not fall under their jurisdiction.

Veerabhadraswamy, Panchayat Development Officer, Sulikere, said that after receiving the letter, they also reviewed the stretch and found that all streetlights falling under their jurisdiction were functioning well.

“On either side of the stretch, the land is acquired by the BDA, and it falls under their jurisdiction. We don’t have jurisdictional authority to resolve the issues in the BDA area,” he said.

When contacted, a senior BDA official said that they would visit the spot and re-verify the jurisdiction.