BDA’s new tender makes NKP Layout residents see red

Y Maheswara Reddy | NT

Bangalore Development Authority’s latest tender notification inviting bidders to take up developmental works at nine sectors of Dr K Shivarama Karanth Layout, has made site allottees of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout sceptical about the completion of developmental works at their layout.

“We are not against developing Dr K Shivarama Karanth Layout, but such d eve l o p m e n t a l wo rk s should not affect ongoing developmental works at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout. I am of the opinion that BDA authorities are giving importance to Dr K Shivarama Karanth Layout just to help contractors make money,” said Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout Open Forum secretary M Ashok.

The BDA has floated a tender dated March 19, 2022, inviting bidders to take up developmental works at an estimated cost of Rs 1,861 crore. The layout is divided into nine sectors and the highest amount (Rs 274.87 crore) is allocated for the developmental works at Sector 9 and the lowest amount (Rs 173.01 crore) for the developmental works at Sector 3.

The developmental works include formation of sites, construction of roads, roadside drains, cross drainage works, and storm water drains, rain water harvesting, protection works including utilities (water supply, UGD and electrical works. All these works are supposed to be completed in 11 months.

Though the notification was issued for formation of both layouts at the same time, the BDA authorities could not complete the land acquisition process for the formation of Dr K Shivarama Karanth Layout. Recently, the Supreme Court has directed the BDA to complete the land acquisition for Dr K Shivarama Karanth layout.

“The Supreme Court did not fix the deadline to take up developmental works. The apex court has directed the BDA to complete the land acquisition. It does not mean that BDA can stop ongoing developmental works at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout on one or the other pretext,” he said.

Suryakiran AS, spokesperson of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout Open Forum has said the BDA authorities had already taken extra time to complete the ongoing developmental works. He said that more than 60 per cent of developmental works are incomplete at the layout.

“No clue on NPKL escrow account. All funds are diverted to Dr K Shivarama Karanth Layout. I think that there will be no money left to complete the ongoing developmental works at the NPKL. The BDA had violated Karnataka RERA deadlines,” he said.

As per the BDA work order NPKL infrastructure would have been completed by mid of 2020 if everything was done as per plan but only 40- 50% work is completed so far, and 2021 completely wasted for variation quantity discussion, technical review committee, approvals, other process and finally the state government instructed for 3rd party audit in the month of February 2022.

“If third party validation required it could have been ordered in 2021 beginning itself which could have given an audited report upon which by now work could have resumed by taking decision,” he said.

However, BDA Engineer Member H.R. Shantharajanna has denied the allegations of site allottees at the NPKL. “We have not neglected the NPKL. During the recent meeting, the BDA Board gave its nod to pay Rs 59 crore to Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL). We will continue developmental works at the NPKL and Dr K Shivarama Karanth Layout,” said Shantharajanna.