Majestic underpass a fire hazard, poses risk to users

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

People using the Majestic underpass near the Kempegowda Bus Station claim they are scared of the electric cables lying close to the leaking roof. The underpass has no fire extinguisher, water sprinklers or smoke detectors, making it dangerous for hawkers and pedestrians.

Ruchit Kumar, a daily commuter of the underpass, said, “The condition of the underpass is scary. It feels like authorities are waiting for some tragedy to happen. They should take this matter seriously and take action quickly,” he said. The situation becomes worse during heavy rains. Hawkers say the entire underpass gets flooded with water, making it more dangerous.

Rubina, a hawker at the underpass, said that she has been doing business inside the Majestic underpass for seven years, and each time it rains, they have to cover the leaking roofs with plastic sheets. “The roof has been in a terrible condition for many years, yet nothing is being done. Sometimes, I am scared that my stall might catch fire due to these electric cables,” she said.

Many hawkers inside the underpass sell flammable products like cigarettes and lighters under the leaking roofs and hanging electric cables.

Karnataka follows the National Building Code of 2016, which states that underpasses and basements in the state must have fire extinguishers, water sprinklers, smoke detectors, smoke exhausters and air vents in place. It also says that all electric wiring must be fully covered, and the wiring must be concealed inside conduits for old constructions.

Prahlad, the executive engineer of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, said, “Sometimes we have safety assessment visits in the underpass. We do have air vents in the underpass but no fire extinguishers and smoke detectors as of now. But we will surely be looking into the matter if it concerns people’s safety,” he said.