Urban News

The Deccan chronicle  08.12.2010

Bengaluru, Dec. 7: A substantial amount of money has been ploughed into laying and improving roads in Bengaluru over the last few years , especially after the formation of the BBMP, says the chairman of the Taskforce on Quality Assurance in Public Constructions C. R. Vishwanath. And the BBMP itself claims it spends nearly ` 1,000 crore a year on developing and repairing roads in the city. But this is hard to believe when you drive around Bengaluru as the roads are as filled with potholes as they have always been, even in the heart of the city. If wear and tear is the problem, the BBMP should obviously be looking for ways to make the roads more durable.

The solution is concrete roads even if they are more expensive to lay in the short term, says Mr Vishwanath, adding that his task force is quite keen on relaying roads in the city with white topping to make them more durable. “Agencies like the BBMP, BDA and other local bodies must start laying concrete roads as they are of superior quality compared to asphalted roads and last for at least three decades,” he says, pointing out that the better quality roads will be good for cars and buses as well as they will not suffer as much damage as they are doing today.Fortunately, the concept has the backing of the Chief Minister. Speaking at a function to mark the opening of a concrete stretch of the Hosur Road in Madivala, a few months ago, Mr Yeddyurappa had recommended building concrete roads and had directed agencies to identify arterial roads for the purpose.

The Chief Minister was not put off by the fact that the initial capital investment in concrete roads is about 20 per cent higher than for asphalted roads as they work out economical in the long run.

Mr Vishwanath suggests that considering the cost involved, concrete roads could be developed on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis. “In years to come the cost of imported bitumen will rise and so laying of concrete road will then seem more economical,” he says, deploring the fact that the contractor lobby makes sure the roads laid in the city are of poor quality.

Although there are no complaints about the concrete stretch of Hosur road laid on a pilot basis, the BBMP has made no announcement so far about how it intends to take this project further. One wonders when it will come out with plans to give concrete shape to the suggestions made by the CM to improve the condition of roads.