Road Widening Project on Kolar Main Road Delays Business and Causes Hardships

Devanahalli: The ongoing road widening project on Kolar Main Road, running from Shivaganesh Circle to Venkatapura, has been facing significant delays, leading to growing frustration among local residents and business owners. Originally launched in January 2024 by district in-charge minister K.H. Muniyappa, the ₹9.5 crore dual carriageway project was expected to be completed within a year. However, nearly 11 months later, work is progressing at a slow pace, with only half of the drainage work completed, leaving behind a trail of dust, potholes, and stagnant water that has severely disrupted daily life in the area.

The road widening project involves clearing a 40-foot stretch on both sides of the narrow Kolar Main Road to make space for drainage channels. However, delays in the excavation and dumping of soil have left rainwater with nowhere to drain. As a result, the area is plagued with stagnant water in potholes, worsening road conditions, particularly during the monsoon season. This, in turn, has created hazardous conditions for commuters and residents, who now face flooded streets after even light rainfall.

The construction of the drainage channels itself is far from complete. Local shopkeepers, whose businesses are located along the main road, are bearing the brunt of the prolonged work. The disruption has forced many to deal with dust clouds from passing vehicles and difficulty accessing their establishments due to the construction work.

I.M. Shafi, a local shop owner, expressed his frustration, stating, “It’s impossible to conduct business here. We are forced to live in constant dust. How long must we wait to be free from this?” Shopkeepers like Shafi have to constantly clean off thick layers of dust that settle on merchandise, making it not only a health hazard but also deterring potential customers from visiting their stores.

For residents and business owners in the area, the dust has become a major concern. As Kolar Main Road is a busy route connecting Kolar to Chikkaballapur, it sees a constant flow of traffic, including goods vehicles, buses, and school buses. The heavy traffic, combined with the ongoing construction, kicks up a thick cloud of dust that settles everywhere, especially on shop fronts, food establishments, and residential windows.

“We are inhaling dust every day, and it’s not just annoying, it’s harmful,” said local resident Ramesh. “Before, rainwater would drain away, but now it just pools on the road. At the very least, potholes should be filled, and water should be sprinkled regularly to control the dust.”

Ramesh’s concerns are echoed by many in the area who are demanding that the authorities take immediate action to address the issue. “If this continues, we’ll have no choice but to protest,” he added, emphasising the growing impatience of local residents.

The challenges faced by small business owners along Kolar Main Road are particularly severe. Srinivas, a hotel owner, recounted how the construction work, specifically the digging of a drainage channel in front of his rented shop, had left him unable to open his business for days at a stretch. “I run a small hotel to make a living. When work started, the shop I rented had a drainage channel dug right in front of it, making it impossible to open my business. The dust keeps customers away, and I can’t survive like this,” said Srinivas, who has seen a sharp decline in foot traffic and revenue.

For businesses like Srinivas’s, the combination of dust and ongoing construction work has made it nearly impossible to operate normally. In addition to this, the physical disruptions caused by the road widening have resulted in blocked access to stores, further driving away potential customers.

Local residents and business owners are urging the authorities to expedite the road widening project and address the immediate issues of dust and drainage. They have called on the district administration to fill the potholes and ensure proper drainage management to prevent water accumulation on the road. Business owners have also requested that the authorities take steps to mitigate the dust, such as sprinkling water regularly on the road to keep it settled.

The slow pace of construction, coupled with the ongoing disruptions, has led to a sense of helplessness among the local community. The road widening, while necessary to accommodate growing traffic, has caused undue hardship for those living and working along Kolar Main Road, who now find themselves caught between the promise of better infrastructure and the reality of daily struggles.

The residents and shop owners are hopeful that the authorities will take immediate steps to alleviate their difficulties and ensure that the project is completed without further delay. However, with completion still a few months away, their patience is wearing thin.

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