Koramangala - a road to nowhere?

Koramangala - a road to nowhere?
Deccan Herald

If you think roads are in a pathetic state only in City Municipal Council areas, then ride into one of the prime localities in the City – Koramangala. One ride down the 80 Feet Road there, and you will realise that the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike is as indifferent as any CMC when it comes to providing basic infrastructure.

The 80 Feet Road, a major connecting link between the City and IT companies on Sarjapur Road and beyond, was taken up last December for upgradation under the KMRP project with World Bank assistance. However, there are very few signs of it being the ‘chosen’ one. Further, it doesn’t look like the so-called upgradation work is going anywhere.

And Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy as often makes it a point to promise ‘development’ of the area as he visits it. However, for IT professionals who brave a bumpy ride and endless traffic jams on this road everyday, his words are just that-not a whole lot more than empty words.


The road, despite the various development-oriented projects it is home to, still remains a much-cited example of under-development by IT honchos like retired Infosys chairman N R Narayana Murthy and Wipro head Azim Premji.

Though the short stretches of the road between junctions are good enough to ensure a smooth ride, the junctions themselves are in a sorry state. So much so, even the remaining traces of tar have been wiped out in these pothole-ridden areas between National Games Village and the Jakkasandra junction. Only things that remain are cobbles and, of course, dust.

Work, a casualty

Worse, the deteriorating quality of 80 Feet Road is now affecting even the performance levels of working professionals. IT employees, like HR manager P Anjali, have quit their jobs in global corporates and instead opted for start-ups located in the central areas of the City!

According to a programmer, Jayashree, “my efficiency has taken a nosedive,” and she blames it on the road. “There are huge traffic pile-ups on this stretch, and we need at least 45 minutes to cross what should otherwise take us only five minutes. As a result, I often reach office late. Worse, I feel tired even before I reach office,” complains Jayashree.

Reacting under pressure, the BMP took up the road work in December last year under the KMRP project, much to the (temporary) relief of the frustrated road users. The ‘signs of development’, however, lasted only a few months. There has been no work-in-progress in the past four to five months.

‘Let down’ by contractors

According to sources, the contractors - Hyderabad-based KNR Constructions - left the work midway over issues of payment. The first package, comprising seven roads, has been awarded to this construction firm, with the deadline set for October, 2006.

“A total of Rs 11 crore out of the total project cost of Rs 39 crore, has been paid till now, and the company is demanding release of more funds,” according to sources. Meanwhile, a BMP official has alleged that the company has been performing badly, and it was a “poor selection” on the part of BMP. In the midst of this blame game, the road languishes in a state of limbo.

Any answers?

When will you deliver on your promise of providing good roads, especially those that link the city to IT districts?

Why are World Bank-aided multi-crore projects floundering?

Who will you hold responsible for the present state of this road?

What action will you take against non-performing contractors?