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.