White-topping project on BVK Iyengar road stalled for months

NT Bengaluru: A white-topping project on a 300-meter stretch of the BVK Iyengar Road between Sultanpet and Chickpet junctions in the heart of the city, has been stalled for seven long months, causing severe traffic congestion in the area. The single-lane road has been converted into a twoway street complicating movement for drivers. Shop vendors lament that the road work has left limited space for customers. While speaking with News Trail, gold shop vendor Dinesh Kumar said, “It was only last month that work on one side of the road was completed. The work on the other side has been delayed for seven months. There is no proper space left in front of our shop, and all kinds of commuters pass via this road. This has led to a dip in our customer visits, as our shop is not getting highlighted.” Responding to the delay, Devaraj, Executive Engineer of the Road Infrastructure Division in the Western Zone, said, “The delay is not due to BBMP; it is because underground pipeline work has been taken up by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).

They have exhausted their notice period for working here. Once their work is completed, the white-topping project will immediately resume.” When asked about the seven-month delay, Devaraj denied that it has been delayed so much, claiming it has only been four months and added that shop vendors and the public are providing false information. During a News Trail visit, rainwater was found flooding an unfinished road where shopkeepers disposed of plastic and paper waste. A road roller was found lying idle while cement pipes were found all around. An open drain was also spotted in the area with wooden boards serving as makeshift pedestrian bridges. Street stalls have appeared raising concerns about unhygienic conditions. A police officer commented, “Managing traffic and the pedestrians is really challenging. I often have to yell for people to move.''