Non-cooperation of officials hits road work

Non-cooperation of officials hits road work
Vijay Times

ALL does not seem to be well with the Karnataka Municipal Reforms Project(KMRP).

A contractor has alleged that road work, taken up under the KMRP, has been affected because of the apathy of the engineers of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and the noncooperation of the traffic police personnel.

Talking to BVT, M V K Phani, project manager of KNR construction, alleged that police personnel were not allowing them to carry construction materials from the plants to the site.

"Traffic cops have imposed fines on the drivers of our vehicles, which were carrying required materials to the site for the construction of roads and drains. The relaxed time was not sufficient. The time allowed was between 12 am and 5 am which was not sufficient. On some occasions, even during 12 am and 5 am, our vehicles were stopped and fined,” he rued.

Phani urged the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) authorities to request the cops to divert the traffic flow to enable the smooth and speedy completion of the project.

"Even some BMP engineers have seized our vehicles like tippers, tractors and JCBs, which were for executing works.Also, they have failed to supervise projects," Phani said.

“We have been bringing materials from our plant in Yelahanka. Sometimes, an artificial scarcity for cement has been caused to increase the cost of cement,” he added.

The contractor said that the public was raising objections to carrying out works in the night, as a lot of noise was being produced.

"The engineers have been causing a delay in providing details like drawings and permissions. They have also not been giving details as to where work should be taken up. We have been left in the lurch in terms of taking up works." He also expressed doubts over the technical capabilities of some BMP engineers.

"Of the seven roads taken up under the first package of KMRP, three have been completed. Roads like N R Square, Koramangala 80 ft road and Kammanahalli have been completed and works on remaining roads are underway," he said.

The work taken up under four packages under KMRP has been going on with financial assistance from the World Bank.

It may be recalled that BMP commissioner K Jairaj had suspended three engineers on charges of executing sub-standard works on Magadi Road.

"Following the commissioners decision to suspend the engineers, work has been paralysed," said sources in the BMP.

ROADS UNDER THE FIRST PACKAGE:

Koramangala Main Road, Mission Road, Langford Road and Kammanahalli Main Road under East zone, Bannerghatta, Katriguppe and Padarayanapura Main Road under South zone, and Magadi Road under West zone.