BMP to take up roadworks at a cost of Rs. 244 crores

BMP to take up roadworks at a cost of Rs. 244 crores

The Hindu

Tenders will be called within a week: Jothiramalingam

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) will soon start a massive road upgrading project at a cost of Rs. 244 crores, the BMP Commissioner, K. Jothiramalingam, said.

At the BMP Council meeting here, the commissioner said tenders for these works would be called within a week, evaluated and sent to the Standing Committee on Works by September 15.

"We can start work soon after the committee approves it," the commissioner said.

The works include those to be taken up under the World Bank project at a cost Rs. 140 crores.

Of this, tenders for works costing Rs. 39 crores had already been called and were placed before the council for approval.

Tenders for the remaining works costing Rs. 101 crores would be called by August 2, the commissioner said.

He said the project also included works under the civic body's budgetary allocation for upgrading major roads at a cost of Rs. 50 crores, ward grants of Rs. 30 crores and the second phase of "complete blacktop asphalting" of roads at a cost Rs. 63 crores.

Pavement upgrading

This apart, the BMP had also set aside Rs. 50 crores to take up the second phase of pavement upgrading this year, he said.

Under the World Bank project, the BMP would upgrade medians, pavements and also lay ducts to avoid road-cutting in the future. The area corporators had been asked to identify roads, which needed to be developed immediately, he said.

Pointing out that the roads would be identified based on the traffic flow, the commissioner said sidewalks would also be upgraded under the project.

He reiterated that the BMP was discussing with the Railways for construction of railway under bridges (RUB) and railway over bridges (ROB) at Mathikere, Byappanahalli, Bapujinagar and Ganagondanahalli. "I will meet the railway officials and request them to start work at the earliest," he said.

Potholes

Replying to members, who complained about potholes being filled with sand and mud in their areas, the commissioner said he would initiate stringent action against the area engineers if they were allowing shoddy work.

"We have enough stocks of coal tar for filling potholes. If the engineers are using sand and mud instead of the coal tar, they will be sent home," he said.