BMP engineer suspended for poor quality of roadwork

BMP engineer suspended for poor quality of roadwork

The Hindu

Jairaj makes a surprise visit to Magadi Road

# Work on Magadi Road found to be inconsistent with good road engineering practices
# Two senior engineers were served show-cause notices
# People who keep building materials on footpaths to be fined heavily

Bangalore: Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Commissioner K. Jairaj made a surprise visit to the World Bank-assisted Magadi Road project on Tuesday following complaints of poor quality of asphalting.

Two senior engineers were served show-cause notices and an Assistant Executive Engineer was placed under suspension by the Commissioner, who observed defects in asphalting and several other shortcomings in the roadwork.

After inspecting the works Magadi Road, the Commissioner said the works were not being executed in sequences consistent with good road engineering practices.

Asphalting was being taken up even before finishing civil works such as removing silt from storm water drains, providing drains where they were needed and restoration of pavements. He noticed during the inspection that large cracks and potholes were not properly filled up, road cuttings were not repaired and that layering of road surfaces was not properly done. The Commissioner ordered action against the engineers for poor quality of work. He also ordered withholding of payment to the contractors.

Mr. Jairaj later inspected the IT-BT Road being executed by Karnataka Land Army Corporation at the 4th Main, 12th Main and 80-Foot Road in Indiranagar, Jeevanbima Nagar Main Road and Airport Road and expressed satisfaction about the quality of the work. He was accompanied by Joint Commissioner (East) N. Jayaram, Chief Engineer (Projects) A.M. Ranganath, KLAC Joint Director Venkatesh Murthy and senior officials.

Appeal

The BMP Commissioner has asked people not to stock construction material on footpaths in front of their property. This would not help the BMP's work in restoring footpaths, he said. Owners who continue to keep building materials on footpaths will be fined heavily, he cautioned.

On Tuesday, owners of three buildings in Koramangala were fined for damaging footpaths in front of their buildings by keeping construction material.