Ejipura: Work of 7 years ago which gained speed

 Ejipur Elevated Corridor: Work expedited by CM instructions

Ejipura: Work of 7 years ago which gained speed

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

 Bengaluru: The work of Ejipura Elevated Corridor, which started seven years ago, was at a slow pace and was stopped for two years. The work, which did not see any progress even after the arrival of new contractors, has been speeded up by the instructions of the Chief Minister.

 People who have been experiencing traffic jams in the area around Koramangala, Ejipur and St. John's Hospital since 2017 have been demanding that the flyover work should be done soon. However, change of contractors and local problems hampered the pace of work. As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah gave the order during his city tour, BBMP engineers started working.

 We have consulted many times with the Minister and the local MLA, Ramalingareddy, to complete the pending work on the Ejipur flyover. The work was stopped when there was a BJP government. Ramalingareddy also joined us in the protest. Even so, the work has picked up speed now,' said the members of the local residents' associations.

 The vehicular traffic that has been going on for seven years is excessive. Going to hospital, school-college, offices becomes a problem. Ejipura Ramaraju demanded that the BBMP engineers should finish the work before the scheduled time.

 Elevated Corridor on Koramangala Outer Ring Road (Ejipur) 2.5 km. It is a long flyover. It is the longest flyover in the city after the flyover from Townhall to Sirsi Circle. Easypur Elevated Corridor Project was formulated in 2014. In 2017, the contract was awarded to Simplex Infrastructure for ₹157.66 crore. The project was to be completed by 2019. However, the contractor delayed.

A writ was filed by Adinarayan Shetty in the High Court. Even after four years and seven months, only 42% of the work was completed. ₹75.11 crore was also paid to him. The High Court canceled the contract in 2022. A fresh tender has been invited in three months.

 BBMP's delay policy delayed the tender invitation. Not many contractors were interested in continuing the half-finished work. The tender invited for the fourth time was accepted in March 2023. After negotiations with contractors, it was submitted for cabinet approval in August. Although approved on September 7, the 'turn key lumpsum' contract with BSCPL Infrastructure for ₹176.11 crore was awarded on November 17.

 Due to the delay of the BBMP officials in the process of contract cancellation, new tender, assignment to new contractor, the work of Easypur flyover is slow. The demand of the locals is that the work should be carried out quickly.

 Problems solved: Ramalingareddy

 There were many problems including release of money and land acquisition to the contractors for the Ejipur flyover work. A meeting was held with the Chief Commissioner of BBMP and the issues were resolved. Transport Minister Ramalingareddy said that the work is going on fast and it has been suggested to complete it soon.

•  ₹250 crore; Total Cost of Easypur Elevated Corridor
•  17 November 2023; The day the task was given to start the half-finished work
•  20 months; Deadline given for completion of work
•  ₹6 crore; Release of funds to contractors
•  Contractors; BSCPL Infrastructure

Kengeri: No work will be done without land acquisition

 Kengeri OR Road Annapurneshwari Nagar Main Road Junction Grade Separator Work Many Vigna

Kengeri: No work will be done without land acquisition

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

 Bengaluru: Although two years have passed since the start of the grade separator work, the process of land acquisition has not taken place. Due to this, the work has not continued and the traffic has increased on Annapurneshwari Nagar main road.

 Grade separator work has started in July 2022 at Annapurneshwari Nagar Main Road Junction near BDA Complex on Kengeri Outer Ring Road. Drainage and barrier work has been done along with the complex. Although a road has to be constructed in the area between this barrier and the drain, the fact that it is a parking spot is a mirror of the progress of the work.

 If the work of this grade separator, which was supposed to allow free traffic towards Magadi Road, had been carried out as per the deadline, it should have been three months already free for vehicular traffic. However, this too remains in a state of preliminary work. Although the purpose of this grade separator is to provide free traffic to Annapurneshwari Nagar and Sumanahalli Ring Road, it is now responsible for vehicular traffic there.

 The contract of Grade Separator was awarded on turn key basis at a premium rate of 10% over the tender amount. Even though BBMP cannot pay more than the fixed amount, if the work goes on for years, it causes annoyance to the locals, motorists, businessmen and also causes financial loss.

 Although ₹16.50 crore has been earmarked for land acquisition, the BBMP authorities have not yet completed the process. Therefore, there has been a lot of setback in the progress of the work,' said the workers.

 The BBMP engineers who say that there is no land acquisition after the commencement of the work, the process should be done, can't they confirm whether the land is available for the work before giving the contract? Locals Nandakumar, Rajesh, Rangegowda alleged that by allowing the works to increase in their schedule, they are making people suffer.

Problem to business

 The road has been extensively excavated for grade separator work at the Annapurneshwarinagar main road junction. There is no work going on here and there is no road. It is a commercial area all around, which is causing a lot of problems for customers. So all of us have a problem with our business,' said Rajat, the owner of the shop, crying.

 There is no road, no work

 BDA complex, college and deputy registrar's office are also located at this junction. The vehicular traffic is heavy due to the work of grade separator. They have been eating our lives for two years without keeping the road as a road and without doing any work. Ramakrishna, a resident of Annapurneshwari Nagar, complained that it is very difficult for all of us to walk here everyday.

Complete in six months: Prahlad

 Along with land acquisition, BESCOM, BWSSB works, 'utility shifting' works have delayed the work. Now everything has been fixed and the work of grade separator at Annapurneshwari Nagar main road junction will be completed in six months," said BBMP Engineer in Chief B.S. Prahlad said.

•  ₹44.78 crore; Total Cost of Annapurneswarinagar Main Road Junction Grade Separator
•  18 July 2022; The day the work was commissioned
•  20 months; The deadline given to complete the work
•  ₹1.85 crore; Release of funds to contractors

•  Contractors; PJB Engineers, Richmond Road
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RR Nagar : 'WALL' to Signal Free Rotary

 Traffic-free work halted at Rajarajeshwari Nagar Arch Junction; Heavy traffic

RR Nagar : 'WALL' to Signal Free Rotary

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

 Bengaluru: A year has passed since the work of 'Signal Free Rotary' which started two years ago to provide signal free traffic towards Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Nayandahalli, Jnanabharathi has been stopped.

 The four or five pillars built for the flyover are rusting and the landowners have recently built a retaining wall adjacent to one pillar where most of the rods remain. A gate has been installed and cement has been put on the Mysore road drain for vehicles to move. As the land acquisition process has not been completed, no action has been taken by BBMP or the contractor.

 Construction of Signal free flyover from Nayandahalli towards Kengeri and Rajarajeshwari Nagar, from Rajarajeshwari Nagar to Nayandahalli and Jnanabharathi is planned in 2021 and the work has started in 2022. The work, which was very fast in the beginning, stopped after the assembly elections.

 The place where the flyover work has been done is now in ruins and an earthmoving machine is standing there rusting. At the place where the work was done, tree branches fell due to wind and rain.

 Land acquisition should be done along the Mysore road. However, the reason for the negligence of the contractor is that the work of the flyover which is supposed to be constructed on the Vrishabhavati valley has not been done,' said BBMP officials and local residents.

 After the assembly elections, the work of this flyover has been delayed due to political tussle. Prasad, Gopal and Ramsingh, the locals, complained that the work has been stopped for a year but the work has not been resumed due to lack of political will.

Traffic all the time!

 There is heavy traffic near Rajarajeshwari Nagar Arch every day and at all times. When the work on the flyover started, there were signs of an early completion. Although there was dissatisfaction about the flyover going inside the arch, there was relief that the vehicular traffic would be eased. It has been a year since the flyover work stopped. Traffic is heavy. Officials should take action to finish the work soon," said T.E. Srinivas of Rajarajeshwari Nagar.

 A project without foresight

 This flyover project with the objective of free traffic at the arch junction of Rajarajeshwari Nagar has no foresight. A flyover is planned to be constructed over the Vrishabhavati valley from and towards Rajarajeshwari Nagar. Jagdish of Pattanagere opined that, the vehicular traffic at Jnanabharati Junction will triple from what it is now, as the work has not yet started this has to be rectified.

 ₹10 lakh fine for contractors: Prahlad

 The Rajarajeshwari Nagar 'Signal Free Rotary' work should have been completed by this time. We have also released money to the contractors for the work they have done. However, land acquisition has been suspended. It is not an excuse, it is suggested to start the work immediately. A fine of ₹10 lakh has also been imposed on the contractor for the delay," said BBMP Road Infrastructure Department Chief Engineer B.S. Prahlad.

•  ₹80 crore; Total Cost of 'Rajarajeshwarinagar' 'Signal Free Rotary'
•  1 July 2022; The day the work was commissioned
•  24 months; The deadline given to complete the work
•  ₹21.22 crore; Release of funds to contractors
•  Contractors; KBR Infratech, Sahakarnagar

'Ullalu Grade Separator': starting state from 3 years

 A 'starting state' that doesn't change after a deadline

 'Ullalu Grade Separator' on Kengeri Outer Ring Road not working speed; Trafficking of motorists

•  ₹32.84 crore; Total Cost for Ullalu Junction Grade Separator
•  27 August 2020; The day the work was commissioned
•  20 months; The deadline given to complete the work
•  ₹6.77 crore; Release of funds to contractors
•  Contractors; PJB Engineers, Richmond Road

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

 Bengaluru: Even after the tender amount, 10% more 'premium rate' is being offered, the work of 'Ullalu main road grade separator' is in the same condition as it was started three years ago.

 A grade separator is being constructed at Ullalu main road junction for smooth and signal-free traffic on Kengeri outer ring road connecting Mysore road and Magadi road. Since the work has been contracted on a 'turn key' basis, no matter how many years the delay is, the BBMP will not incur much financial burden. But for the citizens alone, there is no fault of hardship and annoyance for more than three years.

 A contract for ₹28.22 crore has been awarded for the construction of a grade separator at the junction that takes a turn from Jnanabharati to Ullalu main road and Kengeri and Nagarabavi sides, and the work has been commissioned in 2020. A deadline has been given to complete the work in 20 months. In the 'tender premium' category, ₹2.58 crore is being offered which is 10% more than the original tender amount. The overall cost is quoted at ₹32.84 crore. By this time, it should have been two years since the work was completed. However, the situation is still the same as the days when the work started, only one part of the barrier wall is still in progress.

 No land acquisition process has to be done at Ullalu main road junction. However, there is no progress in the work since four years. Every day, due to the traffic at this junction, vehicles are lined up on Jnanabharati Campus, Ullalu Main Road and Kengeri Outer Ring Road. As the roads are narrow, vehicles are plying on the footpaths as well. Due to this, the movement of citizens is also facing difficulties.

What are we doing, money is not being released to us. If there is no money, how can the work be completed', the person who took charge of the work of both the grade separators is telling the locals.

 They are saying that it is a grade separator. I don't know what he has been doing for three years. If it was a grade separator, the junction should have been dug. If it was a flyover, at least pillars should have been constructed. However, there is no trace of it on Ullalu Main Road or Outer Ring Road. In one part of the road, no work has been done except removing the university wall and constructing a barrier. If you can't work, why start work if you can't pay the workers? It seems that BBMP has started the work under someone's pressure. They are doing all this to cause trouble to the people,' said Nagendrappa, Ramesh, Nataraj, Gauramma, Rajendra, traders of Ullalu Main Road Junction.

 There is also traffic in the university premises

 The work of grade separator at Ullalu main road junction has been going on for more than three years and it is becoming a problem to move around here. Students coming from Ullalu, Vishwesvaraya Layout, Jnanabharati Barangay, Mallathahalli areas are not able to attend the classes on time. Jagdish, a student of Mallathahalli, said that there is also vehicular traffic in the university premises.

 Time wasted by traffic

 We are moving from the grade separator work to the Kengeri ring road through the VV inner road. Hundreds of vehicles are also coming on the same route, creating traffic here. People going towards Nagdevanahalli and Doddabasti are spending hours on this route every day,' complained Kumara, a resident of Doddabasti.

 Start work soon: Prahlad

 The construction work of Ullalu Main Road Junction Grade Separator is progressing due to several reasons. We shifted the temple to another place. We will start the work in a few days," said BBMP Engineer in Chief B.S. Prahlad, who is also the Chief Engineer of the Road Infrastructure Department.

Grade Separator: For four years there is always a 'new' problem

Nayandahalli Junction -ORR Road – Hosakerehalli Kerekodi Junction Grade Separator

For four years there is always a 'new' problem

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

 Bengaluru: The work on flyovers and underpasses, which were supposed to facilitate smooth traffic, has been progressing at a slow pace for years. Neither the government nor the BBMP has taken action to speed up these works, which have further contributed to the vehicular traffic, which is a hindrance to traffic.

 Delay in bill payment is said to be the main reason behind the slow pace of work on flyovers and underpasses. Apart from this, there are many local problems which are not being solved by the authorities. Citizens are constantly torn between the engineers and the contractors blaming each other. They are asking when the work will end.

 The then and present Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister had seen these works many times during their ``Nagar Pradakshina'' and had advised them to speed up the works. However, even though the years are rolling by, only the works have not reached the stage of completion.

 It has been four years since the work of grade separator started on ORR near Mysore road- Nayandahalli junction. This grade separator is designed to enable signalless traffic on OR Road and free flow towards Hoskerehalli Kodi Road and Girinagar. The work which was supposed to be completed in 15 months has not been completed by 50%.

 PJP Engineers is carrying out the work of 'Hosakerehalli Kerekodi Road Junction Grade Separator' which is being managed by Road Infrastructure Department of BBMP Rajarajeshwari Nagar Zone under the Chief Minister's New Urban Development Grant.

 Due to the grade separator work at the Hosakerehalli Kerekodi road junction, which is adjacent to the Nice Link Road, the residents of Hosakerehalli, Bangarappanagar, Mookambikenagar, Pramoda Layout, Girinagar, Ganapatinagar, Avalahalli areas have no access road to the area. A barricade has been built around the grade separator work, and there is a lot of complaints on the one-way road and one has to take a U-turn. 

Those coming from Nayandahalli junction have to take U-turn till PES University to go towards Hoskerehalli. Those coming from Girinagar side should also proceed to the left and take a U-turn. Those coming from Hoskerehalli side should take a turn at Nayandahalli junction on the lower road in the middle of the elevated road. Due to this, there is daily traffic here.

 The work of the grade separator has also reduced the surrounding business. As there is always traffic on the road, people cannot come to the shops. Manoj, a trader, said that there is no footpath and pedestrians are suffering.

 NARROW road

 Dropping and fetching children to school is becoming a lot of problem every day. To go from Girinagar to Hosahalli Kerekodi road, we have to go round and round for three years. The roads adjacent to the grade separator are very narrow and there is heavy traffic. Rammanohar, a resident of Girinagar, said that no matter how early they leave home, children reach school late.

 Waste of 20 minutes

 They have been troubling us for years that they will make the outer ring road signal free. Although four or five pillars have been standing for years, the work has not continued. It takes a lot of time to cross this junction every day. Raju, a resident of Nayandahalli expressed sadness that 20 to 30 minutes are wasted here even during peak hours.

•  ₹30 crore; Grade Separator Cost
•  ₹9.62 crore; Bill payment for work
•  2020 August 7; Mandate to Contractor
•  15 months; The deadline given to complete the work

Workorder for one, bill payment for another

 BBMP: Crore payment for work not done in solid waste management

 Workorder for one, bill payment for another

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

 BENGALURU: Although new contractors have been given work orders for solid waste collection and disposal, supply orders have been given to old contractors and bills amounting to crores of rupees have been illegally paid.

 In the office of Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of BBMP Solid Waste Management Vijayanagara Division, the work order was given to one and the bill was paid to the other. Irregularities of ₹2.95 crore in this regard have been revealed in the 2021-22 Annual Report of the Auditor General of BBMP.

 The tender process for solid waste management in wards 132, 133, 157 and 158 in Vijayanagara Division has been completed and the work order has been issued. AEE has issued a 'notice letter' to the old contractor saying that they have not started the work. There is a gap of two to six months between assignments and instruction dates. The new contractors were getting leases for 20% to 40% less than the old contractors. However, old contractors like Be Clean Be Healthy, V.R. Enterprises, Pradeep R. Enterprises, Santhosh Kumar Enterprises, had been paid ₹1.69 crore for disposal of waste through supply orders, allowing financial loss, the complaint said.

 Annapurneswari Associates, Shishir Associates, Vishwas Enterprises were given the work order for collection and transportation of solid waste. Apart from these original contractors, Lakshmi Enterprises, Uday Kiran Enterprises, Varshini Kiran Enterprises were paid ₹1.25 crore.

16% i.e. ₹ 1.71 crore has been paid in the AEE office of the solid waste management department of Dasarhalli zone for additional staff attendance in solid waste management. The auditors objected to this amount as records of additional staff attendance and payment of wages were not available.

 Illegal everywhere in solid waste management!

•  * 13 DC bill for supply of human resource and machinery in AEE office of Yalahanka Division. ₹25.22 lakh has been paid through DC bills and there is no record of work being done.
•  * Deficiencies were found in vehicle fuel cost and maintenance in the AEE office of Dasarahalli zone and the rules of KTPP Act were violated by not inviting tenders. ₹16.48 lakh paid through quotation.
•  * A 500 KVA high tension line was connected without properly estimating the power demand in the AEE office of Dasarhalli zone. 85% was not used. This resulted in an unnecessary expenditure of ₹11.51 lakh.
•  * Although there is an order to change the lorries to compactor vehicles for solid waste management and disposal in AEE office of Yelahanka Division, tipper lorries have been paid ₹9.85 lakh.
•  * In the AEE office of Chikkapet division, a vehicle which gives a mileage of three km per liter of fuel has traveled and the amount of fuel has been shown less in the log book. The head of the department paid the bill without raising any objection, resulting in a loss of ₹6.61 lakh.

Minister instructs not to plant CONOCARPUS saplings

Minister instructs not to plant CONOCARPUS saplings

 Bengaluru: Forest Minister Ishwara Khandre has directed not to plant of Conocarpus saplings, which spoil the rain environment and adversely affect the health of citizens, in any part of the state, including Bengaluru.

 Referring to a special report on 'Dubai plant' - a health hazard - published in Prajavani on June 5, a copy of which is attached with a note dated July 1, the minister said conocarpus saplings have been banned in some states of the country.  

There is information that it emits acid which is harmful to human health.  The Chief Principal Conservator of Forests has instructed him to conduct an immediate inquiry into the matter and if scientifically ill effects are found, action should be taken not to plant Conocarpus saplings in all parts of the state.

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