‘SHAME’ OLD BBMP

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru:

A portion of Jnana Bharathi Main Road, which was newly asphalted for PM Narendra Modi’s visit on June 20-21 has caved after overnight rain. In a new low for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the stretch of the road which was asphalted at a cost of Rs 6 crore, has caved in a day.

The BBMP covered nearly a 3.6km stretch that falls under the Bengaluru University campus area on the occasion of the prime minister using the road to travel to the Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics (BASE) University on Monday.

The road was a part of the facelift of 14 km roads in the city-specifically for the PM’s visit, costing Rs 23 crore. The authorities have developed Kengeri to Kommaghatta (7 km), Mysuru Road (0.15 km), a stretch after Hebbal flyover (2.4 km), Tumakuru Road (0.90 km) and roads in Bengaluru University campus (3.6 km).

The BBMP also repaired maidans, fixed street lights, and painted roads and kerbs. There has been a huge backlash from netizens on social media regarding the issue. They are demanding for potholes across the city to be fixed even without the visit of a famed personality.

BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath clarified that only parts of asphalted roads have been damaged due to heavy rainfall, and it’s not fair to say that the entire stretch of repaired roads was damaged.

Ravindra PN, the Special Commissioner (Projects) said that the asphalting was taken up as part of protocol ahead of the PM’s visit. Meanwhile, BWSSB officials reached the spot on Thursday evening to repair the water pipeline valve, which allegedly caused the part of the road to cave in, according to BBMP officials.