Karnataka   

Road to Kukke Subrahmanya

Building bylaws

Sir, — It is surprising that the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has announced that it will introduce new rules to improve implementation of the building bylaws to avoid deviations during construction. As Secretary of National Building Code, I had revised the Bangalore Corporation Bylaws in the 1970s. Then, several provisions were included in the building code to prevent violations in construction. These provisions exist in seven appendices under which forms are issued to those seeking to build houses. In addition, Clause VII lists in an elaborate manner the duties of the official supervising construction. If only the Mahanagara Palike follows these provisions based on the building code, there will be no deviations in construction. The building code also specifies in Clause IX violations and penalties. I suggest that the Mahanagara Palike implement the revised bylaws based on the building code and exercise control over its own department.

D. Ajitha Simha,

Deputy Director General (retd.) of BIS,

Bangalore

Disruption in

phone service

Sir, — While steps to widen Sarjapur Road are most welcome, many of us living in Kaikodarahalli and Kassavanahalli have been put to hardship as the work has led to disruption in telephone service. Telephone cables drawn from Carmelram Exchange on Sarjapur Road have been damaged because of the road widening work. My telephone (28439716) and several others in the area went dead for more than a week in the first week of August. After repeated requests and complaints, the service was restored. Now again, it has gone dead. The staff at the exchange claim helplessness. We would like to know if some precaution could be taken with the assistance of the exchange staff while road widening work is on.

Leo Anthony,

Bangalore

Senior citizens in

BMTC buses

Sir, — In Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses, the first four seats in the front are reserved for women and one seat is reserved for senior citizens. If any male member sits in the seats reserved for women and refuses to vacate it after a woman boards the bus, he can be asked to pay a fine of Rs. 100.

But in the case of the seat reserved for senior citizens, no such rule has been made if the seat is occupied by anyone other a senior citizen. None, including the conductor and the checking squad, if it happens by, cares too much for the plight of senior citizens travelling by BMTC buses. I suggest that an exception could be made in the case of senior citizens occupying seats meant for women. Senior citizens, if found occupying one of the seats reserved for women should be allowed to sit even if a woman boards the bus at the time. They should not be fined as it happens in the case of others.

Sham Sunder,

Bangalore

Recheck fare

Sir, — Not unexpectedly the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has announced its intention to increase rates of daily and monthly passes following the recent increase in the price of petroleum products. At present, the fare for a ride from the CMH stop to Double Road stop (on CMH Road), hardly a km apart, is Rs. 5. The minimum fare from one stop to the next stop is Rs. 3. I was in Chennai last week and had to travel from Tambaram to Saidapet, a distance of several km and a ride of 45 minutes, in a city bus, a comfortable double-decker, and was surprised that the fare was only Rs. 5. The BMTC should recheck its calculations and operating efficiency to find out why there is such a difference in fare and rationalise it based on actual distances, thereby reducing the burden on the commuters.

K.V. Pathy,

Bangalore

Open drain

Sir, — The open drain by the side of Puttenahalli Lake has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Foul smell emanates from it, as water stagnates there making it unbearable for the residents on the road. There is the danger of an outbreak of epidemic in the area, if the authorities concerned do not take steps to close the drain immediately.

K.N. Raju,

Bangalore

Readers may also email their letters to: letters.bangalore@ thehindu.co.in

Mangalore

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