Road relaid over leaky pipe!

Road relaid over leaky pipe!

Result: Newly repaired road gets washed away, potholes on the road make a reappearance

By Rohith B R
Posted On Wednesday, September 03, 2008
In another instance of the civic agencies working at cross purposes, the BBMP relaid a road on a stretch over an old water pipe that was in a bad condition, causing a water leak that washed away the newly laid tar mix.

It happened on Bore Bank Road in Benson Town. Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, BBMP Assistant Engineer Venkatesh of ward number 91, under whose jurisdiction the road falls, said that they had laid eight tons of tar mix along the 900-metre stretch of Bore Bank Road just a week ago. “The leaking water pipe which is more than 50 years old, has destroyed our efforts. The tar mix has settled into potholes created by the pipe leakage and around Rs 40,000 spent on the works has gone in vain,” he said. Not only that, but water leakage and heavy rains have created ‘craters’ along the stretch which has become a nightmare for commuters.

Venkatesh added that it was tough to get tar mix in this season and after much trouble the Palike had got eight
tons of Semi-Dense Bituminous Concrete (SDMC) from Bettahalasur. “The condition of the road is very bad and since the past six months, this road has become a headache,” he said.

When contacted, a BWSSB executive engineer, on the condition of anonymity, said that they have called for tenders to replace the pipe but there are no takers. “Earlier we had floated tenders for replacing the old pipe with PSD ones. Now we have called for mild steel pipe installation and are hopeful of getting contractors,” he added. However, he said that it would take take at least three months to complete the project.

Officials in BWSSB said that the pipe channel feeds water to Frazer Town, Machalibetta and Pillanna Gardens. “The line supplies water to around 40,000 connection in these three areas,” said an official. He added that recently the water Board had written a letter to the BBMP not to relay roads till the pipe replacement works get over.

As the BBMP and the BWSSB exchange blame, at the grassroots level, it is residents of Benson Town who are facing the heat.