Deadline not met: BBMP seeks 240 hours more

Deadline not met: BBMP seeks 240 hours more
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahangara Palike (BBMP) has sought 240 more hours to complete the pre-cast underpass on T Chowdaiah Road.

The Palike had assured the public that work on the instant underpass would be completed in 72 hours. As per the schedule, the work should have been completed by Saturday morning.

Palike commissioner Dr S Subramanya on Saturday, told presspersons that seven to ten days are needed to complete the work. Expressing his regret for not completing the work as announced earlier, the commissioner admitted that he committed a mistake by speaking before performing.

He said that unnoticed water supply and sewerage pipelines opened, affecting the digging process. Wetness in the ground is delaying preparation of the ground to place pre-cast elements. “Now the work progress stands at where it was on the first day. BWSSB staff are busy plugging all pipelines which opened. Plugging work would be completed by Sunday and the work will continue unhindered,” he said.

Road to BIAL
The delay in completing the underpass on Chowdaiah Road will have its impact on work on other underpasses on the road to Bangalore International Airport (BIAL) in Devanahalli. Subramanya in a press meet last week had said that the Palike’s aim was to complete construction of seven underpasses to make the road to BIAL signal-free by March 28.

As per the announced schedule, the Palike should have begun construction of the underpass at BDA junction on Saturday, soon after completing the underpass on Chowdaiah Road. The commissioner said that dates of starting works at BDA junction and Windsor Manor Bridge will be decided after completion of the Chowdiah Road underpass.

No extra cost
In response to a question, the commissioner said that the delay will not increase the total expense. “Contracts have been given on the basis of quantity of work, elements and construction materials required. Though the work’s progress has been delayed, total expenditure will not increase,” he said.

BWSSB pipelines
BWSSB chairman Lata Krishnarao said that the delay in underpass works was because the pipelines laid decades ago opened. The board has a database of all pipelines laid in the recent years, but water has been supplied through pipes in Bangalore City since 1900. The board does not have maps of many pipelines laid in the early years of 20th century. However, the board is making all efforts to stop flow of water, she added.

She said water supply in RT Nagar, Sadashivanagar, Malleswaram was affected for two-days due to the on-going work. Supply had been restored by Saturday morning.