Speed thrills but quality suffers

Speed thrills but quality suffers
Bangalore Dec 25 DH News Service

With the dates announced for BBMP elections, developmental works have been expedited at many places, but is the quality up to the mark?

For, ready reference is the CMH Road and Old Madras Road where asphalting is underway on a battered road. The road is already showing signs that it is not to last for longer period.
A notorious stretch, the Old Madras Road was anything but a road due to heavy vehicular movement and the ongoing Metro Rail work. Experts say that the bitumen content is quite low which would fail to hold gravel for long and within a few months potholes will replace the road. Vehicular movement is permitted immediately on the newly asphalted stretch of Old Madras Road due to which the surface of the road has become uneven within days after it was laid. “Shoddy job makes me believe that potholes with gravel and boulders are the fate of Old Madras Road,” said Puttanna, a retired engineer, living in the area. When contacted, traffic expert M N Srihari admitted that the work is not up to the mark.

“They are just spreading a layer of asphalt on an already asphalted road. It would not survive for long. They (BBMP) should have ensured removal of the old layer and laying of asphalt afresh,” said Srihari. He was of the opinion that the road should have been laid soon after the Metro work started for the smooth flow of traffic.

Due to the poor road, Old Madras Road often faced traffic jams. “This is absolutely not the right time to do the work but at this point of time there is no other alternative left with the BBMP. In the given circumstances, one should deliver the best with the available resources,” said Srihari. He also advised to restrict vehicular movement on the newly laid road till the asphalt gets strong.

Chief Engineer of the BBMP (Major Roads) Chikkarayappa said the work is still underway and if there are any shortcomings then he would look into it and wouldn’t allow substandard work to happen.