Bengaluru: Civic safety concerns have once again come to the forefront after a cement slab from the under-construction Ejipura flyover fell on a moving auto rickshaw near midnight. The driver, though injured, had a miraculous escape from what could have been a fatal accident.
Eyewitnesses said the auto’s front windshield was shattered completely when the slab crashed down from the flyover, which has been under construction for more than a decade without completion. Locals expressed anger, saying, “People travel every day with fear in their hearts, as no one knows when the next slab might fall.”
The Ejipura flyover, often described as a symbol of Bengaluru’s civic neglect, has been plagued with delays spanning over ten years. Despite multiple government changes, the project remains incomplete, leaving commuters vulnerable to life-threatening risks.
Following the incident, temporary safety nets and iron mesh have been installed to catch any further dislodged concrete. However, experts warn that such stopgap measures cannot guarantee public safety.
Residents have slammed both the BBMP and successive governments for ignoring maintenance and failing to complete the project. “If lives are lost due to such negligence, who will take responsibility — the officials or the politicians?” asked a commuter.
While the injured auto driver is recovering, the accident has triggered widespread panic and raised urgent questions about the safety of flyovers and roads in Bengaluru, where potholes and crumbling infrastructure have already claimed several lives in recent years.
