BENGALURU: The city’s hub of trade in electronic gadgets, grossing the highest revenue collection area, Sadar Patrappa Road in Nagarathpet, popularly known as SP Road, will be closed for the first time in its history on December 13 due to the pathetic condition of the road.
SP Road is the biggest electronics market in the city. But the traders have been suffering huge losses due to the sewage water flowing into the road and shop. Over a thousand traders will down their shutters on December 13 as a mark of silent protest and will march toward Vidhana Soudha.
The traders say the have complained many times about the issue to the BBMP commissioner and the Health Minister, but no one has responded to their problems. For the past three years, the traders have faced problems like sewage water overflowing on the road and into their shops. Traders complained that many people stopped coming to the market because of the pathetic road and many of them have also suffered from health issues.
The traders’ association has planned the protest to draw the attention of the government to the present state of affairs. The sewerage pipe has broken on SP Road and the drainage and contaminated water have entered the shops, causing huge losses. Silt has not been cleared for many years.
“For the past three years, sewage water overflows on to the road and enters shops every day. We have complained about it to every government official. It has been very difficult to manage our business. We have planned to hold a silent protest, as no one listens to our problems. We will close the road on December 13. No one is bothered about safety and health”, said Rahul Goyal, Karanataka Hardware Association secretary.
“Sewage water overflows on to the road and enters the shops. We need boats to travel on SP Road, not cars. No MLA has helped us and they only come during election time. The Chickpet MLA questioned us why he should help us as we are voters in different constituencies. This area is a top revenue generator for Bengaluru city. All taxes are paid on time, but there is no development. ‘Give us infrastructure and collect tax’ is our slogan for the protest”, said Kiran Hebbar, a trader.