Picture perfect Dollars Colony deserved better

Wide and well-marked roads sporting thick green mantle add charm to the pleasant, predominantly upper middle class Dollars Colony which falls under the Radhakrishna Temple Ward.

The locality has witnessed rapid growth in the last 20 years and is home to a host of politicians and bureaucrats and has a fair share of bungalows and mansions. The area also has the august presence of the ruler — chief minister BS Yeddyurappa.

 Water woes or frequent power outages that are common to many parts of Bangalore, are unheard of in Dollars Colony which has over 550 houses with a good majority of them occupied by well-wheeled senior citizens.

 “Dollars Colony has come a long way in the last many years. With a lot of efforts put in by the residents over these years, the colony has established itself. Attention is given to cleanliness and other factors that are instrumental in creating a good living atmosphere,” says Mabel Rego, who is vice-president of Rajamahal Vilas II Welfare Society.

 “The colony has retained the essence of a true residential area by catering to the needs of the residents. There is a club, three boulevard parks and easy access to all other amenities. Due to the thin presence of commercial establishments, this area remains quite peaceful throughout the day,” says UK Shetty, president of Rajamahal Vilas Club.

Even the most perfect picture has a spot if you closely examine it. So is the case with Dollars Colony. Casting a shadow on the near perfect residential haven of the privileged, there are a few black spots of squalor and neglect.

“There are certain parts of the locality where the storm water drains are not very efficient. They are found overflowing during heavy rains, resulting in a nasty stench. Also, the garbage collection is not up to the mark. Despite the society’s efforts to ensure cleanliness, garbage can be found strewn on the roadsides, sometimes,” says Mabel.

“Motorists doing stunts and drag racing have become a common nuisance in Dollars Colony. Residents are afraid of letting their children play outside their houses. These young and noisy bikers seem to be rowdy elements. There have been complaints of regular accidents. The police should take strict action against these rogues, irrespective of their background,” says Amar, a resident of the colony.

“Dollars Colony has well-planed roads and has all the facilities needed for a good living. Be it in the form of a club, or good, spacious, green parks or welfare associations, the colony has it all,” says member of the legislative council Lehar Singh.

However, a sad trend is on the rise.

“People are converting properties allotted for individual houses to make apartment complexes. Many commercial establishments are venturing into the locality, adversely affecting the liveability of the area.

“For instance, BEL Road which forms the lifeline of Dollars Colony, has got congested, thereby affecting the accessibility to Dollars Colony,” says Singh.

Residents feel that the colony deserved a better ranking this year. But they are not upset and hope its rating will go up next time.