Deadline looming, BBMP officials work 24X7

BENGALURU: A day after Chief Minister Siddaramiah pulled up civic agency officials over the pathetic state of city roads and set a 15-day deadline to fill up potholes, the BBMP officials have started work on a war footing. This time around, the corporation seems to have taken its task seriously and have directed officials to work on Sundays and public holidays. The BBMP Commissioner said officials will not be given leave over the next 15 days unless it is an emergency.  

However, with more rains forecast over the next few days, BBMP officials have a challenging task ahead of them. Several roads in the city are filled with potholes and the condition of roads has only deteriorated in the recent spell of rain. In the span of a week, four people died in accidents caused due to potholes and the state administration seems to have finally realised the seriousness of the situation.

“The engineering division will work day and night when it’s not raining, filling potholes, even on Sundays. Officials will not get a holiday even on festivals,’’ said BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad after attending marathon meeting to discuss ways to fix the city roads.  “The  work has already started and we will meet the deadline. No leave will be  sanctioned to any of our officials unless it is an emergency.’’

The BMMP has directed the contractors, 50 of them, who have asphalted roads to repair them since they are expected to maintain  the roads. “We have already instructed the contractors to start the work,” he said.
Commissioner Manjunath Prasad and Mayor Sampath Raj held a series of meetings with senior level engineers, senior officials and  Councillors. “We started the meeting at 9am where the Mayor convened a meeting with various heads, followed by West and East zone councillors. Concerned engineers too attended the meeting. The meeting was called to inform them about the deadline set by the Chief Minister,” Manjunath Prasad said. A similar meeting will be held with councillors and junior engineers of remaining zones including South,  Rajarajeshwarinagar, Dasarahalli, Mahadevapura, Yelahanka and Bommanahalli zones. The commissioner added that cold mix asphalt will be used when it’s raining and hot mix asphalt otherwise.

On Monday, the Chief Minister had said that if a councillor or MLA of the the ward or assembly constituency brings details of a pothole to the concerned chief engineer, it is the engineer’s responsibility to fill it on time. “The Mayor should tell councillors to check for potholes in their wards and the same has to brought to the notice of concerned engineers. Similarly, Bengaluru Development Minister George will convene a meeting with city MLAs who should bring notice of potholes to chief engineers,’’ the CM had instructed.

Junior engineers are already on the ground monitoring the work. “We have already started our work. Though the CM has set a 15-day deadline, we were told to complete pothole filling within 10 days. We are working day and night,’’ said Shivaraj, BBMP Executive Engineer (major roads).

Meanwhile, as per the Chief Minister’s instruction, the Bengaluru Traffic Police are extending their support to BBMP engineers and contractors.  Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R Hithendra said, “We have given permission to BBMP to carry out pothole filling work any time in the next 15 days as per the CM’s instruction. I have also instructed all traffic police inspectors and DCPs to unconditionally assist them when they are at work in their respective jurisdiction. Traffic police will be deployed whenever roads works are being carried out. They need not approach us for permission to start work. The priority is to fill potholes in the city for the smooth and safe movement of  commuters.”