Campbell Road set to get ‘well’

Campbell Road set to get ‘well’
The treacherous stretch from Johnson Market to St Philomena’s Hospital is being relaid after pressure from the police
ATUL CHATURVEDI


Campbell Road, one of the most treacherous stretches in Bangalore, is getting a facelift. The 0.6-km road, which starts from Johnson Market on Hosur Road and ends near St Philomena’s Hospital off Ashoknagar main road, is being relaid.
The road was blocked for traffic on Wednesday. Authorities maintained the work will be completed at the earliest. The stretch was full of potholes. Vehicles, including BMTC buses, coming from Madivala and Shantinagar and heading towards Ashoknagar and Neelasandra, had been using this road. For months, motorists and residents had been complaining about the poor condition of the road.
BBMP, BWSSB BLAMED
Both the BBMP and the BWSSB were blamed for the sad state of the road. The Ashoknagar traffic police had written to the civic body five times in the last one year asking it to take up repairs. These agencies took up work on Wednesday following ‘pressure’ from the police.
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic and Security) Praveen Sood said: “We had several rounds of talks with all the civic departments. The police realised the BMTC buses were damaging the pipelines, which were creating potholes and slowing traffic flow. If this road has to be in a good condition, the movement of BMTC buses and other heavy vehicles should be banned. We did ask the BWSSB to replace the pipeline with a steel one instead of a concrete pipe. We have to replace a Bescom power transformer too. If the BWSSB doesn’t replace the older pipes with new steel pipes, then we will have to wait for its report.”
ALTERNATIVE ROUTES
The traffic police have suggested alternative routes for the BMTC buses. Sood said, “BMTC officials have also agreed to the decision taken in a meeting. We have suggested an alternative road connecting Austin Road. BMTC buses will proceed towards Ashirwadam junction and take a right turn towards Commisserate Road, Hosmat Hospital, India Garage and ORC Road and then move towards Austin Road.”
BWSSB chief engineer (maintenance) T Venkataraju said: “There are six water pipelines that cut through the road. Every time a heavy vehicle goes over it, the pressure falls on these pipelines. Now we have replaced the old pipes; it is the BBMP’s responsibility to asphalt it.”