Roads: BMP files report in court

Roads: BMP files report in court

The Hindu

`Of the 112 suggestions made by the expert panel, 57 have been implemented'

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Mahangara Palike (BMP) has filed before the Karnataka High Court an action taken report (ATR) on the recommendations of a committee of experts to improve the quality of roads in the city.

The court, in 2005, constituted a committee headed by Raja Rao to monitor the status of roads in the city and suggest remedial steps for their better upkeep.

The committee, in its last report in July 2006, made several suggestions, including the creation of a separate organisation or special purpose vehicle (SPV) for construction and maintenance of roads in the city.

Probe

It sought a comprehensive investigation into the alleged irregularities in roadworks taken up so far, including wrong and excess payments to contractors, admission of improper bills, ineffective contract management and improper evaluation of tenders.

Taking the BMP to task, the committee said it repeatedly highlighted irregularities in the handling of tenders, contract management, preparation of bills, wrong payment of advances such as EMD, security deposit and performance guarantee all against the provisions of tender conditions and not levying liquidated damages against the contractors for their own fault.

It recommended improvement in the side and main drainage system, prevent washing and repair of vehicles on roads, reform the tender process and make the contractors and officials more responsible and accountable for the work done.

Cover more roads

It said the road quality and the riding surface of many arterial roads not covered under any packages were not satisfactory.

BMP should include such roads for upgradation after carrying out scientific and technical evaluation.

Deficiencies

There were deficiencies in the tertiary drainage system in all 100 wards and these had to be rectified, it said.

This would minimise road damage, provide long life to roads and reduce the cost of maintenance.

It said the work on several road packages taken up under HUDCO, World Bank and under IT-BT scheme was far from satisfactory.

In response to these suggestions, the BMP, in its report, said it had implemented 57 of the 112 suggestions made by the committee in its five reports, all of which were submitted to the High Court. The other 55 recommendations were under consideration for implementation.

Signed by BMP Commissioner K. Jairaj, the report said there was a qualitative and substantive change in the functioning of the engineering wing of the BMP after the panel recommendations were implemented.

It said the BMP had appointed a full-time Joint Commissioner (West) to look after roadworks. A technical advisory committee had been appointed to advise BMP on roadworks. Roads: BMP files report in court

Staff Reporter

`Of the 112 suggestions made by the expert panel, 57 have been implemented'

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Mahangara Palike (BMP) has filed before the Karnataka High Court an action taken report (ATR) on the recommendations of a committee of experts to improve the quality of roads in the city.

The court, in 2005, constituted a committee headed by Raja Rao to monitor the status of roads in the city and suggest remedial steps for their better upkeep.

The committee, in its last report in July 2006, made several suggestions, including the creation of a separate organisation or special purpose vehicle (SPV) for construction and maintenance of roads in the city.

Probe

It sought a comprehensive investigation into the alleged irregularities in roadworks taken up so far, including wrong and excess payments to contractors, admission of improper bills, ineffective contract management and improper evaluation of tenders.

Taking the BMP to task, the committee said it repeatedly highlighted irregularities in the handling of tenders, contract management, preparation of bills, wrong payment of advances such as EMD, security deposit and performance guarantee all against the provisions of tender conditions and not levying liquidated damages against the contractors for their own fault.

It recommended improvement in the side and main drainage system, prevent washing and repair of vehicles on roads, reform the tender process and make the contractors and officials more responsible and accountable for the work done.

Cover more roads

It said the road quality and the riding surface of many arterial roads not covered under any packages were not satisfactory.

BMP should include such roads for upgradation after carrying out scientific and technical evaluation.

Deficiencies

There were deficiencies in the tertiary drainage system in all 100 wards and these had to be rectified, it said.

This would minimise road damage, provide long life to roads and reduce the cost of maintenance.

It said the work on several road packages taken up under HUDCO, World Bank and under IT-BT scheme was far from satisfactory.

In response to these suggestions, the BMP, in its report, said it had implemented 57 of the 112 suggestions made by the committee in its five reports, all of which were submitted to the High Court. The other 55 recommendations were under consideration for implementation.

Signed by BMP Commissioner K. Jairaj, the report said there was a qualitative and substantive change in the functioning of the engineering wing of the BMP after the panel recommendations were implemented.

It said the BMP had appointed a full-time Joint Commissioner (West) to look after roadworks. A technical advisory committee had been appointed to advise BMP on roadworks.