No engineer would certify such shoddy work: Expert

BENGALURU: On the last day of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s 15-day pothole deadline on Monday, potholes are seen reappearing just two days after being filled. Why? BBMP seems to have followed no scientific protocol to fill them.

Vivek Menon, a member of Centre for Infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning, Indian Institute of Science, said, “No protocol or no standard seem to have been followed by the palike in their rush to meet a deadline. This is absolutely unacceptable. I have seen them work in North Bengaluru and it left me wondering how the engineers certify such work. If these engineers were in private companies they would be fired. Even a first year engineering student would not approve such shoddy work. I cannot believe they have a technical advisory committee.”

He added that BBMP is not ensuring that the surface is even. They are just filling it from point A to B. There is still no proper drainage system either. “The percentage of tar (5 to 5.5 per cent) determines how solid a road will be. If the design mix is not sent to the lab and tested, one  cannot ascertain why the road is falling apart,” Menon said.“It is the most expensive component of the mix. Engineers should prioritise quality and take time to fix potholes. They should come back and reassess,” he said.