Anger over expensive white-topping 'mess'

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: In its budget presentation, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has allotted over Rs 1,410 crore for white-topping of 150 kms of road stretches to be taken up during 2023-24.

Similarly, Rs 450 crore is earmarked for comprehensive development of 350 kms of arterial and sub-arterial roads based on the lighttender-sure model. While normal asphalt roads are best for vehicles, when it comes to maintenance, concrete roads are better. They have a much longer lifespan when compared to asphalt roads.

“Tar roads are designed to take a certain amount of load. Despite this, when there is movement of heavy vehicles like trucks, it causes a lot of issues, the major one being potholes. Concrete roads can take heavy load, making way for less breakage,” explained MS Preeti Jacob, assistant professor, Civil Engineering, CMRIT, to News Trail.

However, she noted that considering the number of times the various departments in the city dig up roads abruptly, the process may be much more difficult. To counter the problem of flooding, both kinds of roads must have a good drainage system on both their sides, she added. Also, the pace at which these white-topping projects have progressed so far has been criticised by the public.