No way out of this messy pass

No way out of this messy pass


Y Maheshwara Reddy Express News ServiceFirst Published : 01 Jul 2010 01:55:26 AM ISTLast Updated : 01 Jul 2010 10:17:00 AM IST
BANGALORE: The construction of the Kadirenahalli underpass, which was started in 2008, has been going on for two year and creating unending misery for the residents of the area.
This is perhaps one of the few underpasses in the city that has become a bone of contention between the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the public. When the underpass was planned, the residents of Kadirenahalli junction had welcomed the proposal wholeheartedly as the then HD Kumaraswamy-led government had promised that no house would be demolished for the project. However, now the residents want it to come to an end largely because of the dust and noise pollution caused by the work on the Rs 28-crore project that initially had a 10-month deadline. The dug up roads and uncovered ditches are testimony to the laxity of the BBMP. Sadly enough, there are no signs of the work being completed in the near future.
Too many hurdles
“It took us many months to cut the rock for constructing the underpass, while shifting of water pipes needed more than eight months,” says an employee of Madhava Hitech of Hyderabad, which has been vested with responsibility of the construction.Besides, the BBMP is yet to complete the land acquisition process, for reasons unknown. “Though the Palike acquired land towards Kanakapura Road, there are some hurdles in getting land on Mysore Road,” said the project manager.
The BBMP sent notices to 42 property owners only on January 27, 2010, informing them that their properties would be acquired to construct service roads on both sides of the underpass.
The Palike offered only Rs 1,200 per sq ft of land as against the market value of Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 per sq ft.