IIM-B chief cries foul at road repair

IIM-B chief cries foul at road repair
Deccan Herald

Leaders Dharam Singh and Deve Gowda might find political paths murky to tread on, currently. But IIM, Bangalore Director Prakash G Apte is more concerned about the bad condition of the path leading to the premier institute.....

Leaders Dharam Singh and Deve Gowda might find political paths murky to tread on, currently. But IIM, Bangalore Director Prakash G Apte is more concerned about the bad condition of the path leading to the premier institute.

His reiteration follows IT honchos Narayan Murthy and Azim Premji, who had complained about the apathy of Hosur and Sarjapur Road respectively.

At the IIM-B board meeting on Friday, Prof Apte hinted that institutions on the Bannerghatta Road might have to plan another dharna in protest against the bad road conditions. “It’s just been six months since this road has been laid and just see the condition of the road in front of this Institute,” he said referring to the kutcha road adjoining the Institute.

Amongst the several protests held with regard to the bad condition of the Bannerghatta Road, the most prominent one has been by the students and staff of IIM-B on October 4, 2004. They were also joined in by employees of several companies on that road, making the number of protesters 1,500 on a working Monday morning.

Prof Apte had then said, “IIM-B has extensive interaction with the industry and academia throughout the year. The road’s state does not help the poor image of the Institute or of Bangalore.”

The two-km stretch houses premier corporate houses and residential complexes. The Bannerghatta Road which comes under the City Municipal Corporation of Bommanahalli is part of the highway traversing through IIM-B, Mantri Elite, Mantri Paradise and L&T South City residential complex.

Ignoring suggestions of private participation offering an input of Rs 2 crore in road construction, the stretch was laid recently by the PWD department and is again in shambles.