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Road Development

BBMP to discuss road widening with villa residents

Tuesday, 14 August 2012 06:51 administrator
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The Times of India   14.08.2012

BBMP to discuss road widening with villa residents

BANGALORE: The BBMP has decided to discuss ECC Road widening issue with the residents of Sunflower Villas, Whitefield.

On Saturday, a mob had descended on the area, pulled down compound walls of two villas and also dug up pits in front of them. Villa residents complained to Mahadevapuara police who intervened and stopped work. The residents alleged that the mob was mobilized from neighbouring Pattandur Agrahara village and vested interests were behind the act.

On Monday morning, BBMP joint commissioner (Mahadevapura zone) SN Gangadharaiah visited the spot and spoke to villa residents and villagers. He told TOI that the residents have agreed to discuss what would be the best option for them. He said he has convened a meeting with the residents on Friday.

"The engineer involved in the project told me that the residents had earlier consented for widening. They demanded for land acquisition process instead of TDR which we offered. I told them that compensation through land acquisition would not fetch them even 50% of prevailing market rates and in the TDR process, their gains would be equivalent to market prices," said Gangadharaiah.

The major works department at the BBMP head office is widening the ECC Road on either side by 80 feet and for a stretch of 200 metres. However, the Ecumenical Christian Centre (ECC) which is on the other side of the road had moved the court and obtained injunction order against the widening. This has resulted in the BBMP taking up widening only on one side of the road.

The villa residents also clarified that they are not against development of the area, but then the ECC Road had to be widened from end to end and not just 200 metres as had been proposed to facilitate some builders for the latter's upcoming projects.

Cops promise protection

Villa residents met T Suneel Kumar, additional commissioner of police (law and order), on Monday evening. Kumar assured the residents of police protection. "We have assured them protection until the issue is resolved with the BBMP. We have suggested that they attend the meeting convened by the BBMP on Friday. Until they want to leave that place, no one can remove them or cause any damage to their property," Suneel Kumar told TOI.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 August 2012 06:52
 

Civic body increases road contract size by 200%

Monday, 13 August 2012 10:30 administrator
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The Indian Express   13.08.2012

Civic body increases road contract size by 200%

Despite the BMC’s failure last year to attract big players for its road contracts, the civic body has not given up and instead increased the contract size for work on asphalting and concretisation of roads by 200 per cent.

Of the total Rs 970-crore road contracts that will be handed out to various private contractors through tender processes this year, the civic administration has raised the contract size of each contract to Rs 150 crore for this financial year from last year’s maximum of Rs 50 crore.

The corporation is looking to award contracts for work on asphalting and concretisation of roads to big-ticket players, such as Larsen & Toubro, Hindustan Construction Company, Simplex Infrastructure, J Kumar, and Unity Infra Ltd.

Chief engineer of the roads department G M Agarwal said, “We have clubbed the contract for road work as it will ensure entry of bigger and better players. We hope this will bring more accountability and better quality of roads in the future.”

In 2011, the civic administration had increased the cost of a single road contract from Rs 15-20 crore to Rs 50 crore to attract bigger contractors.

Having drawn flak for the poor condition of roads every year, the BMC had blamed local contractors for shoddy work done with inferior quality construction material. After a recommendation of the expert Standing Technical Advisory Committee, the civic body had planned to hand over the responsibility of building, repairing and maintaining a major chunk of all roads to large infrastructure firms to improve accountability.

However, officials later admitted that the move had not brought in any big companies and the road contracts were awarded to smaller companies that have been awarded the contracts for past few years repeatedly. This year, of the total road contracts, around Rs 520 crore is expected to be spent on construction in western suburbs, Rs 200 crore in island city and Rs 250 crore in eastern suburbs, said officials.
Last Updated on Monday, 13 August 2012 10:34
 

Roads, drainage must be priority, civic panel says

Saturday, 11 August 2012 06:20 administrator
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The Times of India   11.08.2012

Roads, drainage must be priority, civic panel says

NASHIK: Nashik Municiparl Corporation's (NMC), standing committee chairman Uddhav Nimse on Friday directed heads of all NMC departments to undertake civic utilities' maintenance on a priority basis.

The directive came after the issue of negligence in works such as filling up potholes and cleaning underground drainages was raised during the committee's meeting on Friday.

Earlier during the meeting , municipal commissioner Sanjay Khandare said, "All maintenances works are being carried out on priority and there is no pending bill with regard to payment for maintenance works. I had recently called the meetings of Building & Construction, Water Supply, Electricity Departments, Drainage and other department heads and the directive was given to carry out the maintenance works immediately.

Instructions have also been given to the Accounts department to clear pending maintainenance bills immediately." Committee member Suvarna Matale (MNS) said that the condition of roads in Cidco division had deteriorated due to monsoon. " NMC officials take cognizance four-five days after being informed," Matale said.

"Good quality material has to be used for filling potholes and tenders for small maintenance works have to be invited at the earliest," another member Vikrant Mate (NCP) said.

"We have not been getting regular water supply in some parts of Nashik West. Besides, around 15 persons have been hospitalised due to petty accidents caused due to potholes on the roads in the division as well," Seema Hiray (BJP) added.

Ashok Murtadak (MNS) said that cables have been made underground at most places in Panchavati Division, but DPs have not been removed so far.
Last Updated on Saturday, 11 August 2012 06:33
 
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