Work on 3 ‘IT’ roads to be completed by March-end

Work on 3 ‘IT’ roads to be completed by March-end

Mr Revanna will discuss with the chief minister the need for a law to empower the PWD to demolish structures to make way for widening of roads.
Deccan Herald

With the IT sector crying hoarse over the state of roads in Bangalore, Public Works Minister H D Revanna on Wednesday personally inspected the road improvement projects taken up by his department during the last 15 days. Three of the 10 roads, which have been taken up for improvement in the IT corridor area will be completed by March 31, 2005, he said.

Work on 4-km stretch of Bannerghatta Road (from J P Nagar Circle to Meenakshi Temple), 4.62-km stretch on Sarjapura Road (from Outer Ring Road to Kodathi Railway Cross) and 8.27-km stretch on Airport Road (Kundalahalli Cross to Sathya Sai Ashram) will be completed with private participation.

The total cost of the project is Rs 34 crore (three roads covering 17 km), of which 50 per cent will be borne by the private sector firms — Mantri Developers, Adarsh Group and Prestige Group, Mr Revanna told reporters after inspecting the widening and road repair works undertaken on these roads in Bangalore.

Laying of wet mix macadam and one layer of bituminous macadam for 850- metre stretch and 1-km stretch has been completed on Bannerghatta Road and Airport Road respectively, while shifting of utilities and construction of drains is in progress on Sarjapur Road. Work on all the 10 roads (total 90 km) will be taken at a cost of Rs 88 crore.

Mr Revanna said he was aware of the bad state of roads in Bangalore, particularly stretches that lead to IT industrial areas. He, however, said that the Government had drawn up a blueprint for its development. He appealed to the private sector also to contribute their mite for the road improvement.

Mr Revanna said that he will discuss with Chief Minister N Dharam Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on formulating a special law on the lines of the one in existence in Hyderabad City, which will enable the Public Works Department to demolish buildings and other encroachments, which come in the way of undertaking road-widening works. These laws should be applicable to all corporations. “If buildings come in the way of taking up road-widening or construction of flyovers, they should be demolished”, he added.

Asked about the delays in road repairs on State highways and major district roads, Mr Revanna said that the delay was due to rains. Now that the rains have stopped, pothole-filling has been taken up on all major district roads, state highways and other roads coming under the PWD. Work is on at a brisk pace since a fortnight, he said. “We will complete the task of filling all potholes soon”, he said.


IN PROGRESS

*The 4-km stretch on Bannerghatta Road
(from J P Nagar circle to Meenakshi temple)
*The 4.62-km stretch on Sarjapura Road (from Outer Ring Road to Kodathi Railway Cross)
*The 8.27-km stretch on Airport Road (Kundalahalli Cross to Sathya Sai Ashram)