Historic cottonpete grapples with traffic chaos, poor sanitation, power cuts

Bengaluru: Cottonpete (Ward 120), one of Bengaluru’s oldest and most historic commercial districts, lies at the very heart of the city. Its name translates to “Cotton Market,” reflecting its rich legacy as a bustling hub for the cotton textile trade.

Established in the 16th century by Kempe Gowda, Cottonpete played a pivotal role in shaping the city’s early economic growth. Strategically located between Chickpet and Chamarajpet, Cottonpete enjoys excellent connectivity, being close to the City Railway Station and Namma Metro’s Purple Line.

However, like many historic neighbourhoods, it faces challenges such as deteriorating roads, outdated utility systems and inadequate waste management.

When will the honking stop?
“Vehicles keep moving around all day, creating constant disturbance for us residents. It’s never quiet here,” said Jaya, a resident of Cottonpete, while speaking to News Trail.

The area experiences heavy vehicular movement, resulting in severe traffic congestion and persis tent noise pollution from incessant honking.

Adding to the chaos, houses are built close together along extremely narrow lanes, giving the impression of navigating through a maze.

With most homes lacking parking facilities, residents are forced to park on the streets. Commuting through these lanes has become a daily struggle for both locals and motorists.

Sanitation problems in Chaluvadipalya
Cottonpete is a vast locality, and different parts face distinct civic challenges. During News Trail’s visit to Chaluvadipalya Road, several sanitation issues were observed.

Garbage was dumped indiscriminately at multiple spots, with one major black spot stretching across an empty plot and spilling onto the road.

Cattle and stray dogs were seen feeding on the waste, posing serious hygiene and health risks to nearby residents. Locals urged the GBA to inspect the area and take measures to maintain cleanliness while educating residents about proper waste disposal.

Frequent power outages
“The electricity goes off very frequently and usually takes hours to return. Even when we contact Bescom, their response is delayed,” said Ratna and Vasantha, senior residents of Subhash Nagar.

They added that while they often reach out to civic bodies to address their grievances, responses and actions are frequently de layed, leaving residents frustrated and helpless