Road Renovation: CM proposes, Mayor disposes

Road Renovation: CM proposes, Mayor disposes
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The city’s crumbling roads have become a prime casualty in an ugly row between the Congress-ruled Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and the JD(S)-BJP coalition government.

Even as Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy is pulling out all stops to retain IT investments in Bangalore, Mayor Mumtaz Begum and her deputy M Laxminarayana have put paid to his efforts by ordering contractors to stop road repair works.

On Tuesday, the two inspected works on three of the 19 roads, and objected to the specifications of the asphalt being used for the roads and civil works and asked officials to stop work.

They also took the officials to task saying that the roads in the heart of the city were being developed at exorbitant costs. Speaking to this website’s newspaper, Begum pointed out that the roads in these corridors were being repaired at prohibitive costs.

Laxminarayana also said the Karnataka Land Army Corporation (KLAC) had been entrusted with these works even though their rates were far higher than private contractors.

He objected to the fact that Rs 2 crore was being spent per kilometer on these roads.

“Is MG Road more damaged than Mysore Road? The BMP assigns a meagre amount to roads elsewhere and is being too liberal on these roads,” he said.

In its defence, BMP Commissioner K Jothiramalingam said the works were funded by the government to ensure higher quality.

“The government had asked us to assign these works to the KLAC and had exempted them from the provisions of the Transparency Act. We have given works at market rates to the KLAC.

“These works are expected to be completed before the onset of the monsoon,” said Jothiramalingam.

The IT representative in the empowered committee on city infrastructure, R K Mishra, said it was the beginning of the end for Bangalore. “Unlike the Chief Minister, if the Mayor and Deputy Mayor do not want quality roads, let them go scouting for investments.

“Who is in charge: the CM or the Mayor? If the BMP can halt the works initiated by the Government, the Government can supersede the BMP. In fact, that is what Chandrababu Naidu did for the intensive development of Hyderabad. I will take up the issue with the Chief Minister,” Mishra said.

Road Stats

Cost of 15.8 km road repairs is Rs 28.57 crore;

KLAC is paid market rates and in advance;

Roads in the heart of the city are less damaged compared to roads in rest of the city;

Officials have not apprised elected representatives of the BMP;

Better quality costs more. The roads will sustain for five years;

Tenders were invited and contractors bid at a phenomenal premium of 300 per cent;

This is special entrustment as per the directions of the government. The works are reviewed by Chief Secretary himself.