People overspeed due to lack of signboards and CCTV

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The shop was 25 feet by 20 feet but has been reduced to 12 feet by 20 feet. “The government gave me compensation, but it was not enough. I would have got more than Rs 20 lakh if they had measured it in meters. But they measured the land in sqft.”

Lokesh Venkatesh, a small chicken shop owner for the past 15 years, said: “Earlier, there used to be a lot of traffic and people used to buy from my shop.” He also referred to the fight that the expressway construction has led to between the land owners. “Compensation was paid by the government, but now there is a fight between shop owners who are brothers. The fight is about who will get more money.”

Srinivas, who runs a mobile equipment shop since 1997, said: “Business has decreased by 30 per cent. Earlier, car drivers would stop and buy aux cables and car chargers. Now big vehicles have moved to the highway. The shop owner got compensation. What have we got?”

Sunil Mehta, a gold shop owner whose shop’s height increased from 2 feet to 7 feet, asked: “How will we get customers if they cannot see the shop?”

Mehta also pointed to the increased number of accidents, narrating how a schoolbus collided with a truck a few days ago saying its not the first.

G.B. Basavaraju, panchayat development officer, Kumbalgodu, said the panchayat cannot work on its own; it needs the state government’s permission and guidelines to do something.

“The higher authorities are yet to decide. They are working to build the Metro line which will go till Bidadi. They will work to repair the drainage system only after the Metro line gets complete. However, we make sure to clean the drain every Saturday under our Swacch Shanivar Andolan,” the officer said.

Shopkeepers in Kanmanike and Bidadi have also incurred losses. Murli, whose restaurant had just two customers when The Observer visited it, said: “There’s no business at all. I am working with 80 per cent loss. Earlier, I used to earn at least Rs 25,000 per day, but now it’s hardly Rs 5,000. I wish the new expressway would get closed which made our business dull”

Read the full story on our website www.theweeklyobserver.com

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Another NHAI official who did not want to be named said: “Accidents usually happen when the travellers cross the maximum speed limit of 80 kmph to 100 kmph. We have installed signboards regarding lane discipline, entry exit, and speed limit.”

Commuters say failure of surveillance by the police is the reason behind the accidents.

Naveen Kumar, a regular commuter, informed The Observer: “It is very common for people to overspeed on highways. Yes, it is life-risking. I have observed some people driving at 140 kmph, or even more than that, which is not safe. I believe it also depends on the driver and how well he can handle the speed.... I have rarely observed the traffic police stopping vehicles that are overspeeding at entry and exit points. So commuters continued to overspeed”

According to a Hindu report, a family of five, including three children, died in a car accident near Lambani Tanda in Channapatna taluk of Ramanagara district. The Ramanagara police said over-speeding might be the reason for the accident as one of the vehicle’s tyres had burst.

S.R. Sanjay, a regular traveller on the expressway, said: “I usually don’t cross 90 kmph, but have seen people overspeeding as there are no signboards and surveillance cameras installed. The expressway should have opened for users after all these things were taken care of. We see a lot of minor and a few major accidents also. Scrutinizing the vehicle speed limit and fining those who overspeed can help reduce accidents. People will also be scared to overspeed.”

The Observer tried to contact Ramanagara superintendent of police Karthik Reddy over the phone, but the officer didn’t respond to the calls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway at a public meeting in the Mandya district. He dedicated the 119km to the nation and called it a gift to the people of Karnataka.c

According to Indian Express, The 119 km Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway project on NH-275 is a 6-10 lane access-controlled highway developed at a cost of Rs 8,480 crore by the ministry of road transport and highway. hamsaveni.n@iijnm.org

Statute Of Unity

Statue of Unity, is the highest statue in the world. It is a fitting homage to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, known as the ‘Iron Man of India’. It serves as a reminder of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s inspirational leadership, which served as the cornerstone of India’s integration as a unified nation. The Statue of Unity was built by Larsen and Toubro and unveiled on 31 October 2018 by Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India. With a height of 182 m, the statue is 54 m higher than China’s Spring Buddha Temple (128 m). On Sadhu Bet Island on the Narmada River, the impressive statue is situated. It is the tallest statue in the world and was built in just 46 months. It is a wellknown representation of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the ‘Iron Man’, who was crucial to the success of unification during India’s independence.

Source: Zee Business

Quiz

1. Which is India’s first super computer?

2. Which is the smallest country in the world?

3. Which metal is the lightest metal in the world?

4. In which part of your body would you find the cruciate ligament?

5. What is the currency of Denmark?

6. Which Tennis Grand Slam is played on a clay surface?

7. In which European country would you find the Rijksmuseum?

Answers on page 4

Around the City

Stand Up Nights, 24 April 2023, 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM, 21st Amendment Gastrobar, Indiranagar

7th Fast Food & Cafe Convention 2023, 03 May 2023, 8:30 AM, Hilton Convention Centre, Nagawara, Bengaluru

Grub Fest, 29 & 30 April, 29 to 30 April 2023, RMC EcoWorld, Bellandur, Bengaluru

Great International Developer Summit, 26 - 28 Apr 2023, 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM, J. N. Tata Auditorium, Bengaluru

Let’s Talk-Books (24 Apr ,6:00 – 7:30 pm), Binnamangala,, Indiranagar, Bengaluru