Urban News

The Deccan Herald  24.11.2010

Palike, BMRCL to share cost of restoring dug-up roads

Sandeep Moudgal, Bangalore, Nov 23, DH News Service:

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) have arrived at a consensus to restore roads, which have been dug up for the Metro work, on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis.

With the Palike struggling to keep track of the number of roads dug up, no one was taking responsibility for their restoration after the completion of the Metro work. The BBMP and the BMRCL were earlier at loggerheads over the issue as the latter had allegedly refused to restore roads at the Metro sites.

Under the new agreement, the BBMP will provide 50 per cent of the funds required for repairing roads while the BMRCL will pool in the rest of the amount.

Sources in the Palike had initially said that the restoration of all the roads, which were closed because of Metro construction, would cost the Palike a minimum of Rs 500 crore.  The cost of restoration after completing the Metro work is estimated to be between Rs 90 lakh and Rs 1 crore per kilometre.

As many as 16 major roads, including M G Road, Dr Rajkumar Road, CMH Road and Kanakapura Main Road, are bearing the brunt of the Metro work.  It is learnt that the Palike top brass has instructed other civic agencies such as the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewarage Board, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited and the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited to restore the roads which have been dug up for their projects.

According to BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah, there has been a series of discussions with the other civic agencies on the restoration of roads to be undertaken by the agencies.

“It has now been included in the work orders to restore the roads wherever the BWSSB or KPTCL have started their projects of re-laying pipes or cable lines. They cannot dig it (road) up and leave the commuters stranded,” he said.

Siddaiah, at a recent co-ordination meeting with the other agencies, is learnt to have said that the use of quarry dust to cover the dug up stretch before the asphalting of the roads has also been made mandatory.

The Hindu  19.10.2010

Bhujanga Park being spruced up

Staff Correspondent

Dilapidated:A view of the lower part of Bhujanga Park which will undergo a makeover.

Udupi: The people of Udupi would have a new garden in the lower part of the Bhujanga Park, in nine months, as the City Municipal Council (CMC) has taken up the second stage of work. The lower portion (western side; near Govinda Kalyana Mantapa) of this park, which comprises four acres of land, had been in a dilapidated condition for over a decade.

The first stage of the renovation work, of upper portion of the Bhujanga Park was completed last year. The second stage work will give complete makeover to the lower portion of the park. It has been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 1 crore, under the Chief Minister's Fund for Small and Medium Towns Programme.

The second stage work envisages construction of a small pond in the middle of the garden. There will be small stage in the centre of the pond, where cultural and other programmes can be held. A path made of small boulders will lead to the stage. Chairs and small boulders will make for the sitting arrangement around the pond.

CMC Commissioner Gokuldas Nayak told The Hindu that a lawn of 250 sq m will be built in the park. A musical fountain will be installed.The park has about 40 trees now, another 500 medicinal plants would be planted. A walking track of 800 metres will be built in the lower part of the park. According to the CMC Assistant Engineer K. Ganesh, if there was an early onset of monsoon, the works will get delayed. “Besides the natural scenery which would be created due to the construction of the pond, the musical fountain and cultural programmes will help people unwind and relax,” Mr. Nayak said.