HC: Is BCC serious about roads?

HC: Is BCC serious about roads?
Petitioner Produces 70 Photos To Prove His Case

The Times of India

Bangalore: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the Bangalore City Corporation (BCC) for building roads only on paper.

“BCC, are you serious about roads,’’ the court asked.

Chief Justice N.K. Sodhi and Justice B.S. Patil, who pulled up the BCC, said: “On paper you have done your job. But we are interested in the real work done. Tell the BCC commissioner to take personal interest or we will come down heavily on him. This state of affairs cannot continue.’’

The court’s reprimand came after petitioner K.N. Subba Reddy, through PIL, produced 70 pictures showing the terrible state of important roads across the city — like Yeshwanthpur Main Road, Rajajinagar, Basaweshwaranagar, B.V.K. Iyengar Road, City Railway Station Road and Mysore Road.

The petitioner informed the court that the roads required major repair, relaying and maintenance. He said that despite a large amount of money being spent on road repair, the condition of the roads had not improved.

The Chief Justice noted: “In many parts of the world, India is known because of Bangalore and IT. Bangalore is being criticised for the poor state of roads.’’

The court directed the BCC to file a status report about the condition of roads in Bangalore city within three weeks. The matter will be taken up on August 2.

The BCC’s explanation for poor roads ranged from soaring sand prices to poor-quality work by contractors. It said they had 96 different repair packages; while some were complete, some were still in progress. It maintained that where contractors’ work was unsatisfactory, they had taken back the work and given it to another contractor.

Justice Sodhi then observed: “From one contractor to another, it is such a vicious circle.’’

The judges gave an indication of the desirability of appointing a high-powered committee consisting of eminent persons in the field of roads. The court asked the petitioner and government advocate V.Y. Kumar to come up with a list of committed experts who can monitor the quality of roads. Justice Sodhi said: “Give us engineers who do not need to be supervised.’’

Other issues like honorarium to be paid to these experts and the time needed for such a panel of experts to supervise road-laying work also came up for discussion.

What court said

On paper, you have done your job. But we are interested in the real work done. Tell the BCC commissioner to take personal interest...this state of affairs cannot continue.
India is known because of Bangalore and IT. Bangalore is being criticised for the poor state of the roads.