Bescom-BBMP face-off stalls widening of Race Course Road

Bescom-BBMP face-off stalls widening of Race Course Road
Prathima Nandakumar | TNN

Bangalore: The chances of Bangaloreans zipping past a wide and majestic Race Course Road might have just got slimmer. Reason: BBMP’s refusal to adhere to the rule book while shifting the utility lines. Luckily, it missed pushing this VIP area into darkness by a whisker.
Last week, road-widening work along Race Course Road was called off abruptly after Bescom lodged a police complaint against the BBMP for ‘damaging underground cables’ near Taj West End. The complainant also sought confiscation of road-widening equipment.
“BBMP flouted the protocol for shifting of power lines. One cannot simply relocate existing power cables. The procedure is to lay new cables as per the specifications before pulling out old ones. The power supply is then restored to the area through the new cables. But BBMP dug-up the stretch and damaged the cables,’’ said a senior Bescom official.
BBMP has been pondering over a detailed estimate for shifting power lines along three roads — Seshadri Road, Race Course Road and Palace Road — for the last five months.
“In January 2007, we submitted an estimate of Rs 6.5 crore for shifting power lines along the three roads. An additional Rs 44 lakh was to be paid to Bescom as supervision charges. Neither did BBMP call for tenders to shifting cables nor did it pay us,’’ said a Bescom official. The face-off between the agencies continues even as the Bescom has warned the BBMP against taking a ‘short cut’. “The protocol for shifting cables is strictly followed for all projects — from BDA’s flyover projects to Metro Rail. Handling live underground cables might have caused electrocution. Also, it would have pushed the VIP areas into darkness,’’ said an official.
The power lines slotted for relocation along Race Course Road cater to Vidhana Soudha, Vikas Soudha, Raj Bhavan, Udyog Bhavan and seven ministers’ quarters among others. Meanwhile, road-widening work will remain suspended even if BBMP pays Bescom and calls for tenders, said an expert.
“Underground power cables are not available off the shelf. It will take at least two months to deliver after an order has been placed,’’ he added.