BPO: Big Potholes Only

Welcome to BPO capital: Big Potholes Only
CM’s 3-Day Deadline History; BCC Chief Says Look For Sept. 19 Now
Times of India

1 The ultimatum: Chief minister Dharam Singh’s three-day deadline for the BCC to initiate short-term measures to set right Bangalore’s road, drain and storm water woes has expired.

2 The result: Gaping potholes on the roads and the pavements remain unattended, the danger of flooding in low-lying areas and open drains is also omnipresent.

3 Breaking news: A new deadline. This time, it’s from BCC commissioner K. Jothiramalingam. He promises a better Bangalore — at least a pothole-free one — by September 19.

This follows a meeting the BCC commissioner had with the mayor, his engineers and staff to prepare the city for a period when it receives its heaviest rainfall. “We have earmarked a Rs 1.5 crore expenditure for repairing Bangalore’s roads over the next ten days. Potholefilling is the first target. On September 18 and 19 the BCC will conduct inspections across Bangalore to check the execution of these road works,’’ Jothiramalingam stated.

Top priority is being attributed to the nearly 400 km of arterial and subarterial roads in the heart of the city, while other roads will be taken up at a later date, the commissioner said. “Some work has already begun, this will be intensified over the coming week. The only difficulty we could face is if it continues to rain through the week,’’he said.

The Rs 1.5 crore allocated for pothole-filling is over and above existing allocations for road work and even if this amount remains unspent by September 19, an inspection will be carried out, Jothiramalingam said. BCC sources said that corporation engineers had during their meeting with the commissioner sought time till the end of September to put Bangalore in shape to handle the rains.

“The three days given by the chief minister was too short. Nothing can be done in that span. The commissioner asked for immediate commencement and completion by September 19,’’ said an official. Incidentally, the chief minister had last week given the BCC three days time to prepare Bangalore for the rains. Apart from the road works, the BCC is also rushing immediately into desilting works for the drains, with Rs one crore being allocated to each of the three zonal deputy commissioners, the BCC commissioner said.

“The inspection of these drains will also be carried out by the end of the next week,’’ he said. For flood-related works — read storm water drain works — an amount of Rs 4.5 crore has been granted to the zonal commissioners to begin work forthwith, Jothiramalingam said.

An effort is also on to kick off work to cover open storm water drains like the one in Jeevan Bhima Nagar — where a youth was drowned earlier this year. “We have called for tenders worth Rs 18 crore to build retaining walls and to cover these drains. We hope to finalise this speedily,’’ he said. The BCC seems to have been galvanised into action, for the moment at least, but only September 19 will tell if Bangaloreans are being fed empty promises —as deadlines come and go.

Mr Commissioner, you are under watch!

Pictures
Siddaiah Road
Cunningham Road
Millers Road
Cantonment