It's 'race' at snail's pace here

It's 'race' at snail's pace here
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The road is dug up, buildings are demolished, wall of the Turf Club has been reduced to the ground. But, the widening of Race Course Road is yet to begin...


The project has not progressed at all in the last three months, and the delayed work has put both pedestrians and motor riders at great risk.

The BBMP began the process of widening the road in May 2007. First the work was handed over to the Karnataka Road Development Corporation, with August 2007 as the deadline. The corporation declined to take up the project citing sudden increase in prices of construction material including cement. The Palike withdrew the work from the corporation and started the tender process afresh.

While Taj West End, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and other establishments on the road came forward to part with their land for widening, the Palike had to convince the reluctant Bangalore Turf Club to allow its compound to be demolished.

Even after it was reduced to the ground in December 2007, the work did not start.

Who is to blame?

BBMP Chief Engineer (Major Roads) K S Krishna Reddy said that re-tendering of the project has been completed.

“We will start widening works as soon as Bescom authorities complete shifting utilities”, he said.

However the Bescom has not shifted utilities passing through the road to the duct to allow the Palike continue with its work.

Krishna Reddy said the Bescom wanted the Palike to set up utility duct between Basveshwara Circle and Taj West End.

The Palike provided the same. “But now they want the duct to be extended up to Ananda Rao Circle. Because of the delay in shifting Bescom utilities the road widening work is delayed”, he said.

As half of the road has been dug up pedestrians do not have side walks.

At peak hours vehicles occupy the entire stretch of the road without leaving space for pedestrians.

ROAD DETAILS

*Total length: 1.94 km
*Present width:
7 to 12 mtrs
*Proposed width:
24 to 30 mtrs
*Estimated cost:
Rs 17 crore