Bengaluru: Bengaluru- in-Charge minister and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy took the BMRCL and BBMP officials to task on Monday over the terrible conditions of roads around Namma Metro construction areas. The irate minister set a deadline of three months for the concerned officials to make roads under the elevated Metro Rail tracks usable for commuters.

The minister visited Banashankari, Sarakki, Padmanabhanagar and Lalbagh West Gate along with a team of BBMP and BMRCL officials on Monday. Reddy was accompanied by his predecessor, former transport and city-in-charge minister, R. Ashok and Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy.

The inspecting team had to tread through debris and slush as part of their inspection, which was what led to minister Reddy taking officials to task. He said that BMRCL officials must clear the debris that has been dumped around the Metro sites in South Bengaluru, which is a big hindrance to the smooth movement of traffic in those areas.

Reddy also said that there have been several complaints from the public, especially those in South Bengaluru, about poor road conditions along the Metro alignment. People have complained about scattered construction material and roads filled with potholes where the BMRCL has taken up its work.

Former Minister R Ashok said that there is a lack of coordination between BMRCL and BBMP which has aggravated the problems of the general public. Reddy also directed the BMRCL to complete the Phase-1 of Namma Metro by 2014.

The minister’s visit was timely, a few days after his meeting with BMRCL officials to discuss the progress of Phase I and issues related to realignment of lines in Phase II of the metro project.