A BDA promise that has not been fulfilled even after years

 Lack of infrastructure in Nadaprabhu Kempegowda barangay, struggle to build house

 A BDA promise that has not been fulfilled even after years

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

 Bengaluru: Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA)'s promises to construct a vehicular road to facilitate the construction of houses in Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL) are not being fulfilled even after years.

 Those who have got a plot in NPKL are not able to build a house. There is no 'motorable road' required to transport the building construction. The settlers who are struggling to transport the materials, despite building houses with difficulty, are struggling without water, electricity and drainage system.

 Over the years, the squatters and office bearers of the barangay association have written many letters to all levels of engineers, including the Deputy Chief Minister, BDA Chairman, BDA Commissioner, and have also submitted a petition in person. There are promises that 'the road will be ready in another month, in ten days' but in reality, no progress is being made in three months, six months or even years.

 BDA is developing roads using Soil Stabilization Technology (SST) for the first time in layouts. However, the necessary roads for the settlers have not yet been constructed.

 BDA officials say that 80% of the works have been completed in NPKL. However, there are no real privileges to build a house here,' complained the settlers.

 Some houses have been constructed in the 5th block. It has been requested many times to build roads suitable for traffic for them to travel and build new buildings. Even in the 6th block, the road has not progressed. Some parts of block 7 have been asphalted. Wet mix needs to be applied as a soil stabilization work in some areas,' said Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Barangay Open Forum President E. Channabasavaraja said.

Separate contractors have been given mandate in March to construct SST roads in 5th, 6th and 7th blocks of NPKL. Work is going on in the 7th block. The work in 5th and 6th block is still in the initial stage. The joint secretary of the forum, Suryakiran, complained that the tenders have not yet been called for constructing roads in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th and 9th blocks of the Layout.

 'No electricity connection, no drainage system'

 Those who have built houses in NPKL 5th block have not been given permanent electricity connection. Wherever houses are built, they are being given temporary connections from neighboring villages. Although it is said that there is a drainage system, the drainage water in the area where the roads are joined is flowing to the plots outside. Sewage water is said to go directly to the Waste Treatment Plant (STP). But the actual picture is different. There are no street lights. Madhusudhan, a resident of the 5th block, said that the cords are wrapped around the electric poles.

 When the BDA chairman came for inspection on August 14, he said that within 10 days, all the roads will be wet-mixed and allowed for vehicular traffic. However, not a single road has been improved so far,' complained Suryakiran.

 Works will start: Harris

 NPKL tenants have complained, work will be done. Can't do everything at once.  The work stopped due to rain and now it will be continued said BDA President N.A. Harris said.

 Technical problem: 

Construction of SST roads in 7th block of NPKL is nearing completion. 5th and 6th blocks are partially working.  BDA engineers said that there are technical problems in many parts, they will be rectified and the road work will be started.

'Bill not paid'

 The bill has not been paid to the contractor who is working on the drainage and water system in the 5th block of NPKL for a year. Hence, they have stopped the work. So the local engineers told us that they are not able to build SST roads," said Suryakiran, joint secretary of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Barangay Open Forum.

 SST: Cost of ₹121 crore

 There are about 15 thousand plots in 5th, 6th and 7th blocks of NPKL and 30 feet, 40 feet and 50 feet roads are being constructed in SST.  It was said that this is a more robust and durable technology than normal asphalt roads, and the cost will be reduced by 10% compared to concrete roads. As promised by BDA in January, these roads were to be constructed in nine months. 50% of the roads have been constructed in the 7th block. Work has not started on 5th and 6th block.

 ₹40.35 crore for 29 km SST road in 5th block, ₹40.36 crore for 28 km in 6th block and ₹40.33 crore for 29 km road in 7th block.