Bengaluru: Even as work on Namma Metro’s much-awaited Pink Line advances along Bannerghatta Road, local residents are facing a growing menace beneath the elevated pillars — illegal garbage dumping that has turned the stretch near Gurappanapalya into an eyesore and health hazard.
Residents decry daily dumping and foul stench
Locals allege that heaps of mixed waste have been accumulating daily under the metro corridor for the past two months, creating unhygienic conditions and emitting a strong stench.
“Every spot is turning into a garbage bin,” said Ravi Prasad, a resident of Gurappanapalya. “A huge amount of garbage is dumped every day, and the authorities have completely neglected the area. Despite repeated complaints, no one has cleared it.”
From Vega City Mall to Gurappanapalya, the under-construction Pink Line pillars have become convenient dumping points for residents, nearby shopkeepers, and passers-by. In addition, unauthorised posters and advertisements pasted across several pillars have further defaced the newly built infrastructure.
Lack of enforcement and irregular waste collection
Residents blame irregular garbage collection and poor enforcement by civic agencies for the worsening condition. They also claim that the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has failed to implement adequate barricading or waste management near construction sites, which has encouraged opportunistic dumping.
“Even sticking posters on metro or flyover pillars is forbidden, but these structures are filled with advertisements,” said Rahul Kumar, another local resident. “The BMRCL should install barricades or fencing to prevent dumping and maintain cleanliness. In Bengaluru, many flyovers have become waste zones, and now the same is happening under the new metro line.”
Night-time dumping and recurring blackspots
Residents said the dumping mostly happens at 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 becomes unbearable in the evenings,” said Lavanya H., a resident of Gurappanapalya.
She added that despite clean-up drives, the problem resurfaces within days. “We need a long-term solution — CCTV cameras, proper waste bins, and fencing to protect the metro corridor from becoming another garbage blackspot.”
Civic body promises stricter action
When contacted, a Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) official acknowledged that garbage blackspots under metro corridors are a persistent issue. “We have deployed marshals at several such locations to prevent illegal dumping. They are instructed to penalise those found throwing waste near metro pillars,” the official said.
The GBA recently cleared the garbage accumulated under the Bannerghatta Road metro stretch and assured residents of stronger enforcement going forward. “We are planning stricter monitoring and more frequent clean-up drives to maintain hygiene under the metro corridors,” the official added.
The road ahead
With metro construction expected to continue for several more months, residents are urging coordinated efforts between BMRCL and GBA to ensure sustainable cleanliness. Civic activists have also suggested community awareness drives and installation of waste segregation bins along the stretch.
For now, however, residents fear that without strict monitoring, the newly built Pink Line pillars will continue to stand over piles of waste — a stark reminder of Bengaluru’s recurring urban sanitation challenges.