There is a huge open drain in front of the Consulate building, which often gets flooded with sewage .
The pathetic condition of the city roads has even drawn the ire of Germany’s consul general. He has written to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to repair the roads and footpath in front of the German Consulate near Residency Road.
In a letter (dated May 11), German consul general Dr Ingo Karsten has requested BBMP commissioner MK Shankarlinge Gowda to carry out the repairs before the Indo–German Urban Mela, to be held from June 22 to July 1, to create a positive impression of the city.
The Consulate is located at Cash Pharmacy building, next to the Bishop Cotton Boys’ School at the St Mark’s Road–Residency Road junction. They moved to this premises in September 2011.
It is a busy commercial area and witnesses heavy traffic. Even though the footpaths are covered with concrete slabs, most of them are broken and the pedestrians find it difficult to use them. There is also a huge open drain in front of the Consulate building, which often gets flooded with sewage water and has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Karsten said the poor condition of footpaths near the Consulate premises could pose a hazard for the visitors during the Mela. He requested that the slabs on the footpath be replaced. Secondly, he pointed out that the drain on the front portion of the consulate (Residency Road side) seems to be having a serious sewage problem.
The consul general noted that Germany’s foreign minister will be visiting the city to inaugurate the Mela and also officially open the Consulate General and the visa office.
“In view of the scheduled official visit of the German foreign minister to our premises, I hereby would like to urge you to address the above issues in order to give a positive impression of the city of Bangalore and to help preparing for the events that will be of great importance for further co-operation between our two countries,” Karsten said in his letter.
He had earlier raised the matter with the State government. V Mohan Kumar, of state protocol department in Vidhana Soudha, had directed the consul general to write to the BBMP commissioner. Before sending the letter, Karsten had met the BBMP commissioner on May 9 and briefed him about the problems.
Shantalanagar ward corporator K Shivakumar said that the state government had given `100 crore to the BBMP, under the Tender SURE (Specifications for Urban Road Execution) scheme for developing roads, drains, lightings and other works in major areas.
“Shantalanagar ward is getting Rs42 crore. A detailed project report has been prepared and the works will be taken up after the BBMP budget is presented,” he said.
The Indo–German Urban Mela will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. An exhibition will be organised at the Palace Grounds from June 22 to July 1 to showcase German science and technology.
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