Underpass in 72 hrs: clock begins to tick

Underpass in 72 hrs: clock begins to tick
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Curious onlookers gazed at huge machines removing mounds of soil as the BBMP began work on installing the magic box underpass near Cauvery theatre junction on Wednesday. Earlier, as announced, Sankey Road — from Bashyam Circle to Cauvery junction — was blocked for vehicular movement.
The BBMP, which swears by the magic box’s low cost, has said five underpasses from High Grounds police station to Hebbal flyover will be ready before the first flight takes off from the international airport at Devanahalli.
The authorities have altered the magic box’s location. It was supposed to be installed at Cauvery junction, however, the BBMP has decided to install the underpass 65 m away from Cauvery junction; it’s now on the stretch of Sankey Road leading to Bashyam Circle. As a result, Hebbal-bound vehicles using Sankey Road from High Grounds must take a compulsory left turn and U-turn to reach Bellary Road. This change was brought about to cut costs and to complete the work on schedule.
The BBMP said BWSSB demanded Rs 30 crore to shift utilities at three junctions — Windsor Manor, BDA and Cauvery theatre. Seven water and sewer lines — one pipe with a diameter of 700 mm, two pipes of 600 mm diameter, 450 mm and 300 mm diameter pipes, and two sanitary pipes of 300 mm and 225 mm diameter — run along Cauvery junction. It would take at least 45 days to shift these utilities and since the associated cost is substantial, the BBMP changed its plan. “The cost of three magic boxes is Rs 7.5 crore, which is one-third the cost of shifting utilities. A problem-free solution cannot be mooted right away. We could not acquire property at Palace Grounds as the matter is sub judice,’’ said BBMP officials.
If the utility-shifting work had to be taken up, it would lead to intermittent water supply in the northern parts of the city. However, the BBMP has agreed to bear the utility-shifting cost wherever necessary.
Four excavators, dumpers, compressors, vibratory-rollers, cranes, 20 pre-cast elements have been mobilized for speedy completion of work. Also, to ensure that the Cauvery junction underpass is ready within 72 hours, the BBMP has begun shifting of utilities, road-digging and tree-felling works simultaneously.
No water supply on Friday
Water supply to areas surrounding Cauvery junction will be affected on Friday due to underpass work. As a precautionary measure, BWSSB will cut water supply to Malleswaram, Yeshwanthpur, RT Nagar, Sanjaynagar and surrounding areas.