Rain damages 700 km of roads

Rain damages 700 km of roads

The Hindu

BMP waiting for funds from the State Government to begin repair work

# Footpaths washed away in many places
# Actual work on road repair to start only after the BMP's estimates are sanctioned
# Focus will be on improving the standards of roads



IN BAD SHAPE: One of the roads in Bangalore which was damaged due to recent rains. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE: Over Rs. 185 crores spent on road upgradation and maintenance by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) in the last one year has gone waste following the recent rains.

As much as 700 km of roads of the total 3,800 km, including those that were recently asphalted have been damaged, and hundreds of potholes have appeared on prominent roads.

While footpaths have been washed away in many places, rubble and slush from potholes and mud dumped recklessly on the sides of roads following digging by various civic agencies have made the condition of roads worse. With the BMP waiting for funds from the State Government and also "sunshine" to start repair and maintenance work, it looks as though bumpy rides are only going to get worse in the coming days.

Filling potholes

While the BMP officials claim that work on filling potholes has already begun, the actual work on road repair will start only after the BMP's estimates for Rs. 300.85 crores for rain relief works are sanctioned and released by the Government.

The BMP has already written to the Department of Urban Development about the requirement, which in turn has been included in the memorandum being submitted by the State to the Centre.

Stretches of the Race Course Road (near Anand Rao Circle and adjacent to the Janata Dal-Secular office), Rajajinagar Entrance Road, Hennur Main Road, SJP Road, J.P. Nagar 6th Phase, Ring Road, Mysore Road, Sarjapur Road, Serpentine Road in Kumara Park, West of Chord Road, Nagarabhavi Road, Bannerghatta Road near the Indian Institute of Management, Double Road, St. Mark's Road, Hosur Road, Magadi Road, Airport Road and even Queens Road have been damaged.

The BMP Additional Commissioner (Finance), P.K. Srihari, who is also Engineer-in-Chief, told The Hindu that the civic body's top priority now is road repair and maintenance.

"We have submitted the estimates and are also waiting for the rains to stop completely. But we have already started pothole filling and have procured additional 1,000 barrels of emulsion for the purpose," he said.

Pointing out that most stretches needed to be re-chip carpeted as the gravel on the surface has come out, Mr Srihari said: "Though it looks as though the condition of roads is horrible, most of the stretches will become usable just by cleaning the scattered gravel on the surface, slush and mud."

Stressing that regular road works will not be delayed at any cost, Mr. Srihari said : "Road work can start only after the roads are dry. But potholes filling will be a regular exercise."