BMP pats, pays for road not done

BMP pats, pays for road not done
Says Good Job, Rewards Contractor With Rs 10 Lakh
The Times of India

Bangalore: It happens only in Bangalore Mahanagara Palike. Paying Rs 10 lakh to a contractor for a road not asphalted! And patting him too for “satisfactory execution of work”.

The case in point is a perfectly good Rama Iyengar Road, perpendicular to the famed Food Street in South Bangalore. But BMP prepared an impressivesounding detailed estimate for “depression filling, levelling coarse for camber correction, applying bituminous tack coat at Rs 2.50 per 10 sqmt, brushing and cleaning the road surface...” at a cost of Rs 10,76,808.

The road has not seen any asphalting. But the contractor was paid his dues. This fraud came to light thanks to S R Venkataram, president of residents’ welfare association, Suprajaa. Using the RTI (Right to Information Act), he procured details on the non-work. Explains Venkataram: “I have lived in this area all my life and no one can bluff to me about the work. So I asked for technically and administratively sanctioned copy of the estimate, tender rates and copy of the duplicate bill. I was shocked when the papers claimed that this road has been asphalted for Rs 10 lakh. What is happening to the tax-payers’ money?’’

The executive engineer at Basavanagudi under whose jurisdiction this road falls, has declared: “Certified that the measurements were checked by me and found correct.’’ The contract certificate, a copy of which was obtained by The Times of India, reads: “Certified that the contractor has executed the work satisfactorily and the work is as per schedule. Certified that the contractor has removed all the debris from the work spot.’’ The contractor has been paid Rs 10,67,808 vide cheque No. 037508.

Venkataram has forwarded all the documents to the Lok Ayukta.