Projects make steady progress

Projects make steady progress

Aarthi R | TNN



They were announced with much fanfare but now at different phases of development. Pedestrian subways using pre-cast technology were done in record time of 24 hours, schemes like Sakrama and Litter Cops yet to take off, a few roads still waiting to be widened, delayed by PILs and a few others like the elevated corridor on Dr Rajkumar Road modified into a signal-free road due to non-feasibility.
According to BBMP commissioner S Subramanya, at least 80% of the projects listed last year have been initiated. The elevated corridors proposed at busy roads as part of the major infrastructure initiatives have also had mixed success. The feasibility report for the elevated corridor on Mysore Road from Sirsi Circle till Kengeri has been prepared. The final alignment drawing is under preparation by BMRTC. The DPR for the elevated corridor at JC Road has also been prepared and suggestions are under review.
However, the one proposed at Dr Rajkumar Road — from Rajajinagar entrance to Yeshwantpur junction — that was found not feasible has now been modified and included this year, will now be a signal-free road.
Road widening was a bit slow. Nearly 91 roads over 144 km had been identified for smooth traffic flow. While a few like Kasturba Road, Hosur Lasker Road, Hennur Road, Banaswadi Road and Sarjapur Road are complete, the Bellary Road, Race Course Road and Palace Road are in various stages of completion. Delays in obtaining road-cutting permission and legal hurdles have hit the pace of work.
Building roads over storm water drains was yet another ambitious proposal last year. While two of the four roads proposed under the Swiss Challenge method have failed the feasibility test, the other two are slowly progressing. The proposal for one has been received and the alignment map for the other is being prepared. The DPRs have been prepared for the construction of Sewage Treatment Plants at 13 places. Work has started at four places using pre-cast cement technology. Work on developing a portion of the Vrishabhavathi Valley into a model river front on the lines of the Sabarmati river valley development project has also begun and is expected to continue this year as well.