44% Fund Released for 20% Work

 HMT Road – Pipeline Road Junction Grade Separator:  BBMP keen to release money

44% Fund Released for 20% Work

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

 Bengaluru: The HMT Road-Pipeline Road Junction Grade Separator has contradicted the allegation that 'BBMP is not paying the bill to the contractors'. Although the work is 20%, the contractor has been paid 44% of the bill.

 BBMP has started the work of grade separator four years ago at the junction where HMT Road meets Pipeline Road to provide smooth connectivity to Jalahalli, T.Dasarahalli, MES Ring Road and Tumkur Road.

 The grade separate work which was approved under the 'Chief Minister's Nava Bangalore' project has been changed to the 'Chief Minister's Nava Nagarothana' project. Besides, an additional amount of ₹5 crore has also been approved. All these processes were completed within a couple of months. However, even though the work has been going on for four years, not even 20% has been completed.

 PJB Engineers, which has been awarded the contract for both grade separator works on Kengeri Ring Road, has been given a tender premium of 10 percent and has been awarded the contract on a 'turn key' basis. The 'turn key' scheme means that no amount of money has to be paid for the completion of the work. But, in this case, rather than work, BBMP engineers have been paid generously. The road has been dug up on both sides and it is a daily problem for people only.

 The middle of the road has been dug up and allowed for vehicular traffic. However, traffic here has become dangerous. Soil and asphalt are collapsing and often two-wheelers are falling. Asphalt is collapsing when large vehicles move and falling on the work site.

 Grade separator work has to be done in some area of Defense Department. But BBMP engineers are not interested in discussing this. The gas pipe line has not told them to quickly reroute. Thus, everything is getting delayed,' complained Rajesh, a local.

"Giving many reasons, BBMP engineers keep postponing the work. It has been difficult to travel here for almost four years. How much land is required for a project, is it available with us? BBMP engineers don't even think about which department should do the work and how beneficial it would be if it is done first. Therefore, the road is dug and the work done half-heartedly, leaving it fallow for years. Their quality also deteriorates. Srikantha Rao, a resident of Dasarahalli, expressed his indignation that it is a daily problem for the people.

 The contractors here are not saying that they have not been paid. He didn't work, he didn't. So they are saying that we are not able to continue the work. More money should be released to these contractors. Suresh of Jalahalli remarked that they are pious.

 Work will be slow: Arif

 The HMT Road-Pipeline Road Junction Grade Separator work has been delayed due to 'Utility Shifting'. The gas pipeline has to be re-routed so the pace is slow. The acquisition of land by the Defense Department is delayed. Contractors have been given more time. It's been four years, it's still getting delayed,' said Arif, Road Infrastructure Engineer, Rajarajeshwarinagar Zone, BBMP.

•  ₹20 crore; Cost of HMT Road – Pipeline Road Junction Grade Separator
•  27 November 2020; Order to restart the half-stopped work
•  20 months; Deadline given for completion of work
•  ₹8.82 crore; Release of funds to contractors
•  Contractors; PJB Engineers, Richmond Road