Progress or waste of money, asks Mayor

Progress or waste of money, asks Mayor
Deccan Herald

Less than a week ago, BMP Commissioner K Jothiramalingam sang praises about the progress made on the 19 IT/BT roads earmarked for upgradation by the expert committee on infrastructure. On Tuesday, Mayor Mumtaz Begum slammed the same, calling it “a waste of tax-payers’ money”.

Following an inspection of two of the IT/BT roads, Commissariat Road and 80 Feet Road, Indiranagar, the Mayor concluded that upgradation of these roads was “unnecessary and a waste of resources”. She also ordered that work should be stopped on 80 Feet Road, Indiranagar, where works have been taken up at a cost of Rs 2.16 crore. On the upgradation of work, she asked “Why have they chosen to asphalt this road which does not have a single pothole?”

Chief Engineer (Projects) A M Ranganath, who accompanied the Mayor pointed out that only the civil works are completed on Commissariat Road, and the decision regarding asphalting is still awaited.

However, the Mayor maintained her stand, stating, “I have to answer to the tax-payers”, and resolved to inspect all the 19 roads to ascertain if they were in need of development. “Those roads which are found to be in a good condition will be taken off the list. We will make recommendations to the government on the same.

She added that she will resume her inspection rounds on Thursday.