Govt spoils NICE opening party, issues notice

Govt spoils NICE opening party, issues notice
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The Karnataka Government on Thursday asked the BMIC promoters Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) not to go ahead with the inauguration of the road, scheduled for Friday, as it would amount to violation of the framework agreement.

In a notice served to NICE, the State Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary of the Public Works Department pointed out that NICE had informed about opening of a section of the peripheral road between Talghatpura on Kanakapura road and Kengeri on Mysore Road for the traffic without furnishing the detailed completion report of the project, comprising all items of works carried out along with plans, designs and drawings.

The notice said the road should not be opened for traffic without clear approval of the government as per the framework agreement, failing which it would amount to violation of the agreement. NICE has been asked to furnish a detailed completion report.

According to a spokesman for NICE, the promoters were only required to inform the government, i.e. PWD, after the completion of the entire first phase of the project as per the framework agreement.

“We are just opening a small portion of the first phase stretching 9.1 km. It is just a soft-launch and as such there would be no violation of the agreement,” the spokesman said.