Entire Bannerghatta Road to be white-topped: Krishna Byre Gowda

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Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda doing night rounds in Bengaluru on Friday (September 18). | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The entire stretch of Bannerghatta Road will be white-topped as a long-term solution to the recurring road damage, announced Krishna Byre Gowda, Greater Bengaluru Development Minister, after a late-night inspection of the stretch on the intervening night between Friday (September 18) and Saturday (September 19).

Mr. Gowda said the Namma Metro and BWSSB works had affected the stretch badly, and temporary asphalt repairs had failed to withstand the traffic volume on the road. Thus, he said, a decision had been made to take up white-topping of the entire stretch.

The Minister, who began the inspection at around 9 p.m., found that 530 of the 1,540 streetlights were non-functional on the J.P. Nagar–Gottigere stretch. Despite meetings in July and August, repeated instructions and the suspension of an engineer, the lapses are persisting, he said.

“The LED lighting contract had ended in February, but the contractor had failed to complete the work even during the extended period,” Mr. Gowda said. He added that 90-watt lights were still being used instead of 120-watt lights suited to the width of the road.

The Minister directed officials to impose double penalties on non-performing contractors and initiate blacklisting wherever warranted.

Accompanied by South Corporation Commissioner K.N. Ramesh and senior civic officials, Mr. Gowda also inspected the stretch from J.P. Nagar Metro Station through the Outer Ring Road. Later, he also inspected Bannerghatta Main Road up to the Gottigere NICE Road junction.

In a statement, the Minister’s office said that the inspection brought to light several lapses in the maintenance of streetlights, footpaths, drains and roads. Mr. Gowda pulled up officials over dark stretches, incomplete footpaths, open drains, debris and road defects and directed them to take immediate measures.

Mr. Gowda expressed displeasure over the condition of footpaths, as he found concrete slabs lying scattered, while open drains posed a safety risk to pedestrians. Officials were directed to cover open drains, complete footpaths and provide concrete ramps at entry and exit points for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. He also ordered the installation of pressed-concrete bollards to prevent vehicles from entering footpaths.

Mr. Gowda questioned officials over incomplete road surfacing, drainage irregularities and vegetation affecting the road width and ordered action. He also ordered the removal of unauthorised advertisements, dangerous Bescom cables and debris from footpaths and roads.

The Minister further reiterated that a joint task force comprising the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and city police would be constituted to prevent footpaths from being re-encroached after they are cleared.

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