The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) seems to be making efforts to develop quality roads in the city by laying six inches of concrete (white-topping) on the existing road surface.

BBMP Commissioner M Lakshminarayana told Express the cost of white-topping roads is 25 per cent more than normal asphalting. However, white-topping lasts longer and  will be free of potholes for at least the next 10 years.  

The Commissioner said if there is leakage from water or sewage pipes below, the roads may still be damaged. “To avoid road digging to install underground pipes or wires, we are leaving a two-foot shoulder filled with sand and cobblestones on either side of the roads.  The material can be removed in order to lay pipes or wires,” he explained.

“I have also instructed authorities concerned not to dig through the middle of the road to lay pipes or wires,” he said.

On Monday, BBMP whitetopped the Park House Road near the KPSC building. “We are now considering laying roads using this technology at the City Railway Station Road. This is one of the busiest roads in the city. But, there is a need to develop that road,” he said. On TenderSURE (Specifications for Urban Road Execution) roads, the Commissioner said the Palike has identified many roads to be laid under the plan. “However, contractors are quoting 100 per cent more than our estimation. They want to make quick money in a short span. It takes more than one-and-a -half years to lay TenderSURE roads,” he said.

“As there are no takers, we are calling for a meeting with contractors on Wednesday to discuss this,” he said. This is also expected to provide pothole free roads.