Partial asphalting, BDA style

Partial asphalting, BDA style
In Bhuvaneshwari Nagar, only 12ft of the road’s width is being tarred, to allow BWSSB work
ATUL CHATURVEDI


The main demand of people living in underdeveloped localities in the city is tarred roads. Many roads in these areas turn into a slushy nightmare during the monsoon.
That is why it came as a surprise to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), when it wanted to asphalt roads in Bhuvaneshwari Nagar in T Dasarahalli, that falls under ward number 14 of the BBMP. The residents stoutly opposed the idea.
No, it was not because they had got emotionally attached to the mud roads: Their logic was simple. Why tar the road, only to have the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) dig it up again, to lay the Cauvery water pipelines?
Though the work was supposed to begin four months ago, the BDA officials waited, because of pressure from residents.
But the local MLA S Muniraju was insistent that the BDA begin the asphalting work before monsoon, as residents would find it difficult to commute on slushy roads. Faced with such pressure, the BDA started the asphalting work.
But strangely, it has laid asphalted only 12 ft width of the road. That is ok for the narrow roads, but even on some portions of fifth and sixth cross, where the road is much wider, the asphalting has happened only on 12 ft. BDA assistant executive engineer Shashidhar said, “We planned to asphalt only 12 ft (width) as the BWSSB plans to dig it up to lay pipelines. We want to ensure that the roads are not fully destroyed. After the BWSSB completes its work, we plan to tar the remaining stretch as well.”
However, residents of the areas are not happy. “The BDA is laying pipelines in other roads too. While they have tarred the other roads completely, fifth and sixth cross have been left in bad shape,” said Rajashekar, a resident. Another resident, Anita said, “The officials would have definitely surveyed the areas before asphalting the roads. How can they not maintain consistency?”
Rajath Narasimha, a resident of Bhuvneshwari Nagar, said, “Despite several requests to the BDA, nothing has been done. On Thursday, a few residents from the first cross also protested as the contractor was using some powder instead of jelly to cover-up the roads.”