After suspending engineers, BBMP to go after contractors

Friday, 10 November 2017 11:50 administrator
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The Hindu      10.11.2017 

After suspending engineers, BBMP to go after contractors

A pothole on Mudaliar Road near Shivajinagar bus stand.Sudhakara JainSudhakara Jain  

Mayor says civic officials will inspect quality of work after potholes are filled

In the process of making Bengaluru’s roads motorable again, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has cracked the whip on its own. As many as four engineers have been suspended in two days after the deadline set by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to get rid of potholes ended. Next in the firing line are contractors.

Though complaints of potholes dominate, there have also been a large number of complaints of shoddily done pothole-filling work.

Mayor R. Sampath Raj said the palike is prioritising filling up potholes, after which it will set its sights on the quality of work. “As of now, of the around 30,000 potholes, at least 28,000 have been filled. Work to fill potholes is still on. After we complete this, we will start inspecting the quality of work. If it is not satisfactory, action will be taken against the contractors,” he said.

The BBMP had recently published a list of contractors with their contact numbers. These were contractors who were still liable for repairs under the maintenance period, during which they bear the cost of repair as well. Now, BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad has sought a report on the roads which still have potholes after the deadline — which got four engineers suspended — and if they are under the maintenance period.

“If a particular road is under the maintenance period and if there is no work done or the work done is shoddy, it is the responsibility of the local engineer to get it done by the contractor, who is also held responsible. If the maintenance work on a particular road is over, then the engineer is responsible completely to get it laid or repaired. Prima facie, we have taken action against engineers of wards where roads still have potholes despite repeated instructions to have them removed,” Mr. Prasad said.

He added that if the roads were under the maintenance period, show cause notices will be issued to the contractors. “We will also confiscate the security deposit and blacklist them,” he said. In 2015, the BBMP had blacklisted 40 contractors for shoddy work.

As of now, of the around 30,000 potholes, at least 28,000 have been filled

R. Sampath Raj

Mayor