Cracked Compound Walls at Legislators' Home and BSNL Office Pose Threat to Pedestrians

Several compound walls surrounding key government premises across Bengaluru, including the Legislators’ Home, Lok Bhavan, and the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Head Office, have developed deep cracks and stand in a dilapidated state, sparking serious safety concerns among pedestrians.

The hazard persists despite instructions issued by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) directing engineers to identify and demolish unsafe compound walls and old buildings on the verge of collapse. The GBA had issued the directive in the wake of an incident on April 29, when a compound wall collapse at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital claimed seven lives.

At the Legislators’ Home, the compound wall has developed visible cracks and risks collapsing during the next heavy downpour. Footpaths running alongside the structure are heavily frequented by daily commuters. Pedestrians Mohan Kumar and Bhaskar N noted that the damaged wall alongside the pavement poses an immediate threat to life, urging the GBA Chief Commissioner and local engineers to act before another tragedy occurs. Bhaskar pointed out that the wall around the Lok Bhavan compound is similarly compromised.

Addressing the delays, Public Works Department (PWD) Assistant Executive Engineer for the Legislators’ Home, Veeranna R, stated that higher authorities have already sanctioned the demolition and reconstruction of the perimeter wall. He explained that work was scheduled to commence last month but had to be postponed due to the legislature session, as carrying out demolition while legislators were staying at the complex presented severe security challenges. He added that reconstruction will begin soon.

A similar situation prevails at the BSNL Head Office, where a portion of the perimeter wall is on the verge of caving in, directly endangering street vendors who occupy the pavement beneath it. BSNL Principal General Manager Rakesh K Chandrakar explained that the BBMP Forest Department denied permission to fell trees needed to facilitate the construction of a new concrete wall. As an alternative measure, the department plans to install an iron grill, with work slated to start shortly.

Pedestrians have also highlighted structural deterioration in compound walls at several other locations across the city, including the Income Tax Office on Queen’s Road, Company DSC HAL on Malleshpalya Main Road, and Mahatma Gandhi Colony near Subhash Nagar.