FIRST SHOWER IN 10 YEARS

FIRST SHOWER IN 10 YEARS
The Town Hall-Sirsi Circle flyover is getting cleaned after a decade in view of the monsoon; it will get a facelift soon, including an elevated garden
B K LAKSHMIKANTHA


Finally, the city’s first mega infrastructure gets a bath. Ten years after the Town Hall-Sirsi Circle flyover was completed, the BBMP has taken up repair and renovation work.
Around 30 BBMP employees have been cleaning the 2.8-km stretch for the last couple of days. The task, taken up without much hype by the BBMP, is being lauded by traders and residents on either side of the flyover.
BLOCKED CHAMBERS
The dust from vehicles had blocked the 400 inspection chambers on either side as well as drains on the flyover. Due to this, the water would get collected and fall on commuters under the flyover.
During the rainy season, rainwater used to inundate the road, hampering the smooth movement of vehicles. “As the monsoon is just around the corner, the BBMP has taken up work to clear blocks in medians and chambers,” said BBMP west division chief engineer B T Ramesh.
WATER-LOGGING PLAINTS
“There were complaints of water-logging and water falling on people under the flyover. Our men are busy clearing the blocks and the work will be completed within a week,” he said. Sources said the BBMP had not earmarked funds for its maintenance. The BBMP plans to asphalt the Mysore Road flyover in the coming days. It will be the first time in Bangalore that the civic body will ‘recycle the existing tar’ and asphalt it. This is a new technology that is being tried by the BBMP.
ELEVATED GARDEN
The gardening work under the flyover near Royan Circle has been completed. “We also plan to develop an elevated garden from beginning till end of the flyover. It will be 3 feet above the ground level in a bid to prevent dogs and cows from spoiling it,” he said. The BBMP will also paint the grills and whitewash the flyover walls.
A few months ago, the flyover had become a death trap as a rubber piece at a joint had come off, creating a 3-feet wide gap on its surface. Following complaints from the public, the BBMP closed the gap by asphalting it as a temporary measure.