MG Road pipe work triggers mixed response from businesses
BENGALURU: With Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) preparing to dig up MG Road, Bengalurus prime commercial corridor, businesses, office tenants and industry bodies along the stretch are bracing for disruption, raising concerns over accessibility, traffic congestion and potential losses if the timeline for the pipe-laying slip. Some business owners said the work is necessary, but only if it is accompanied by clear timelines and effective traffic and access management. Shesh Paplikar, owner of BHIVE Co-working Space on MG Road, said infrastructure upgrades were necessary on a road of such importance. Ultimately, if work has to be done, it has to be done. MG Road is a prime business corridor, and if traffic management is planned properly, business will not come to a standstill, he said. He added that a large share of their users commute via the Metro, which could soften the impact of road closures. Frequent commuters say disruption has already begun. Aryaman Lakshamanan, who works out of an office on MG Road, said road diversions have made access unpredictable. Theyve blocked stretches on Primrose Road and Brunton Cross Road and its led to congestion and long pile-ups during peak hours, he said. Retailers and food outlets expressed sharper concerns, particularly over walk-in customers. Kishore Kumar, owner of Aubree with an outlet on MG Road, said the areas commercial viability depends heavily on ease of access. This is a prime location, but once digging starts, walk-ins drop immediately, he said. With businesses increasingly dependent on Swiggy and Zomato, he added that delivery delays due to congestion could directly impact daily revenue. Industry bodies have warned that delays could ripple across the Central Business District. Vijayashekar Ravi Deepam, Vice-President of the Bangalore Trades Association (BTA), said prolonged work even on short stretches could create widespread disruption. Completing the works on the 2-km stretch in 15 days would be a miracle. Otherwise, MG Road and connected Central Business District roads will be disturbed, he said. He highlighted that white-topping would be suicidal for establishments in that area, adding that when the Association met the BBMP Commissioner, it highlighted that blacktopping causes significantly less disruption.
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