BMP's prestigious road project progressing at snail's pace

BMP's prestigious road project progressing at snail's pace

The Hindu

Only 30 per cent of the work on key roads completed so far

# About 27 km of key roads being strengthened in first phase
# Construction agency blames design team for the pace of work

Bangalore: Smooth rides on busy roads had been a promise authorities held out to traffic-weary Bangaloreans. But it may remain a promise for some more time.

The Karnataka Municipal Reforms Project aims at strengthening key roads in the city, making them pothole-free and protecting them from inundation for the next 10 years. The deadline for the first phase was October 26 this year, which was revised to late November.

Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) sources told The Hindu that it is likely to be delayed as only 30 per cent of the work had been done. About 27 km on stretches of Kammanhalli Main Road, Ejipura Main Road, Bannerghatta Road, Kathriguppa Main Road, Padarayanapura Main Road and Magadi Road and Mission Road are being strengthened in the initial phase at a cost of Rs. 39 crore.

Work force

The construction agency is said to have employed only 300 workers in place of 500 workers, which has slowed down the work. According to sources, the work should be carried out at four places simultaneously, but the agency has not been doing that.

The agency has not provided the necessary quality certifications and therefore has not been paid bills up to Rs. 2 crore.

But the agency, KNR Constructions, said the BMP was insisting on quality certificates because the officials did not supervise the work when it was executed. "We started work in January and were able to finish some 25 per cent of the work. But from May onwards, we have been able to complete only about 12 per cent of the work," said Pani, project director of KNR Constructions.

About not employing enough workers, Mr. Pani put the blame on the design team that laid out the programme of work. (A design team specified the kind of work need on KMRP roads and the construction agency has to follow the specifications). He said the design team had exaggerated the work to be done on roads and set higher standards than necessary.

"For instance, the design team had specified 40 km of new storm water drains but only 17 km was needed. The BMP is insisting that we employ more workers despite having to do less work," he said.

"We will be able to finish 75 per cent of the work by November. The deadline would have to be extended," Mr. Pani said.

Captain Rajo Rao Committee, set up by the High Court to look into road management by the BMP, recommends in its fifth report, "BMP should immediately plan and establish a minimum of three or four divisions to handle exclusively the World Bank works. Any delay in having adequate engineering staff will only add to the further delay of completion of these works." It states that since the roads are spread over the entire length and breadth of the city, one Executive Engineer cannot handle the entire workload.

`No problem'

Joint Commissioner (Works) Harsh Gupta said work on the project was going smoothly.

Puttamalajiah, Project Director of KMRP, said the construction agency had decided to employ the services of a senior engineer and that work should now continue with renewed vigour.