Days after PM Modi leaves Bengaluru, tar leaves roads

BENGALURU: The road patches that were repaired ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bengaluru have been damaged within a week. Local residents blamed the shoddy work by authorities that has unravelled soon after the PM left. 

The BBMP, however, maintained that the roads might have lost its shape due to non-curing during rain. CM Basavaraj Bommai has instructed BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath to conduct an inquiry into the work and take appropriate action. 

According to S Sudarshan. general secretary, KHB Nagarikara Kshemabivridhi Sangha, the BBMP fixed bad roads in Komaghatta in Kengeri surroundings, on June 15, and also repaired a big stretch at Sir M Visvesvaraya Road leading to Maruthi Nagar. In a week, the patch has been exposed, he said, adding that the patched tar has been removed, and a wet mix filled instead. “The crores of money the BBMP has spent on works during PM’s visit is likely to go down the drain in a few weeks after rain,” he said.

Ravindra, BBMP Special Commissioner, projects, had said that Rs 23.5 crores were spent on fixing roads, drains, street lights and marking of white line on newly tarred roads in Komaghatta and Hebbal. The RWA’s in and around Kengeri said that the works were done during rains and in hurry.  Special Commissioner Ramprasat Manohar maintained that Palike’s works were done with transparency.

“The damage in a few places has come to our notice. As it was raining and there was no proper curing, the patch work may have peeled off. We will ask the contractors concerned to fix it again,” Manohar said.
Taking note of this, CM Basavaraj Bommai has instructed BBMP Commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the shoddy work and take appropriate action against those responsible for it. 

No construction on unused tanks
The BBMP has 201 lakes under its jurisdiction, of which 35 have some encroachment issues while nine lakes have become ‘unused tanks’. The Palike maintained no Layouts or construction will come up in these disused tanks, and the Palike will instead develop tree parks.