BETL Watch: Racing against the deadline

Racing against the deadline
The Times of India


Almost all the way down Hosur Road — from the Silk Board junction to Electronics City — you can see feverish activity. Along many stretches, pre-fabricated concrete block drains have been fitted and covered, and in other stretches, it’s in the process of being done. Where the drain work is over, the main road has been asphalted up to the drain. The service roads too have been improved in a number of locations and there’s a lot of traffic flow on these roads.
Wherever the main roads have been broadened, work on the pillars for the elevated expressway has started.
Along several long stretches, the median has been cordoned off and you can see tall piling rigs at work. A National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) official said some 70 piles (foundations for pillars) have been done.
“Our first milestone is January and I expect we will meet all the targets fixed,” the official said. All the three construction companies involved — Soma, Maytas and Nagarjuna — are pretty much on target. An overhead launching gantry to fix the pre-fabricated roads on to the pillars, is being fabricated in China and will reach Bangalore this month.
However, the official expressed regret that there was no visible progress in the effort to properly asphalt the road connecting Attibele and Bommasandra to Sarjapur Road, which would help divert heavy vehicles away from Hosur Road. This road is the PWD’s responsibility.
STATUS REPORT
Service roads: Of the 10 km to be done, 4.1 km completed and opened to traffic. Remaining expected to be over this month
Erection of drains: 13 km over. The remaining 7 km was to be fully done by this month, but may spill over to February.
Six-laning of main road: 7.5 km done. 10 km more to be completed. Expected to be over by this month.
Elevated expressway: 70 piles (foundations for pillars) done. The total is over 2,000.