BMP’s outsourcing experiment fails

BMP’s outsourcing experiment fails
Deccan Herald

The BMP said that contractors failed to adhere to the contract conditions such as filling up potholes, clearing debris and repairing footpaths.

Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) on Monday terminated the Rs 16 crore contract for the maintenance of 1,000 kms of road across the city, due to “inefficiency” of contractors in performing their duties.

BMP had outsourced road maintenance in November 2003 and awarded the contract to 10 contractors in 12 different packages. Besides maintenance, the contractors were supposed to clear debris, repair footpaths, put up sign boards and clear animal carcasses for the period of three years. BMP in a release said that contractors have failed to stick to the contract conditions such as filling up of potholes. The decision to this effect was taken at Zonal Chief Engineers and Executive Engineers meeting convened by Commissioner K Jothiramalingam.

Instead, BMP has decided to undertake the maintenance of roads on its own by purchasing coal tar from Hindustan Petroleum. It is estimated that nearly 960 barrels of coal tar is required for road maintenance in all three zones, and it has already placed an order in this regard, the release stated.

Budget approved

The State Government has approved BMP 2005-06 budget. The approved copies of budget will be printed in two days, the release said.

Citizens’ complaints

The BMP on Monday asked citizens to lodge complaints pertaining to street lights in its limits with the Executive Engineers (Electrical) of the respective zones.

Complaints with respect to Malleshwaram, Rajajinagar, Gandhinagar, Chikpet and Chamarajpet Assembly constituencies can be lodged at the office of the Executive Engineer, Electrical, (West) on 22975614. For complaints from Shivajinagar, Bharathinagar, Shantinagar and Jayamahal Assembly constituencies, complaints can be lodged Executive Engineer, Electrical (East) at 22975814. For Binnypet, Basavanagudi and Jayanagar, Executive Engineer, Electrical, (South) at 22975714.