Puttenahalli overpass thrown open

Puttenahalli overpass thrown open

Staff Reporter
The overpass which allows two-way traffic is yet to be asphalted though
Minister R. Ashok inaugurates the facility

Contractor has not kept his word, he says


— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

SOME RELIEF:The Puttenahalli Flyover that was thrown open to traffic in Bangalore on Sunday.
Bangalore:Finally, there is light at the end of the tunnel for residents of J.P. Nagar, Puttenahalli, Kothanur and surrounding areas.

For, the overpass on 24 {+t} {+h} Main at J.P. Nagar was thrown open to traffic by Minister for Transport R. Ashok on Sunday even as the work on the underpass is continuing.

The Puttenahalli underpass is being built on J.P. Nagar 15 {+t} {+h} Cross, which intersects 24th Main and the Ring Road.

The Rs. 23-crore project was taken up about three years ago to ease traffic flow from the southern reaches of the city.

Work on the project, which was supposed to be completed in February 2009, is going on at a snail's pace.

After throwing open the overpass on 24 {+t} {+h} Main, the Minister said that the contractor has not kept his word on completing the project in time.

Jayanagar MLA B.N. Vijayakumar and residents of the area, who were fed up with the slow pace of work, had urged the officials of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to blacklist the contractor. Mr. Ashok said that henceforth, the BBMP would take up a thorough pre-qualification of bids for major works in the city.

“The officials will be directed to allow only qualified contractors to participate in the tendering process. The BBMP will blacklist contractors who do not complete the work within the stipulated time,” he said.

The contract for the construction of the Puttenahalli underpass was awarded to Andhra Pradesh-based Engineer Project India Ltd., BBMP officials said.

The delay in completing the project has inconvenienced people who have been forced to take numerous detours.

The overpass which allows movement of two-way traffic has still not been asphalted though.

The contractor has promised the Minister that the entire project will be completed in about three months' time, the officials said.

MLA Satish Reddy, Mayor S.K. Nataraj and DeputyMayor N. Dayanand were present.