GBA orders municipal corporations to prepare action plan to improve roads, junctions amid monsoon
The city will have to brace for more roadworks during the monsoon, as the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has directed municipal corporations to prepare an
The city will have to brace for more roadworks during the monsoon, as the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has directed municipal corporations to prepare an action plan for improving roads and heavily congested junctions. The works will be undertaken using the ₹2,000 crore fund announced by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar after assuming office last week. Documents accessed by The Hindu show that the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will bear 50% of the announced amount, while the remaining share will be provided by the State government. The GBA has asked the corporations to prioritise stretches and junctions that witness high traffic volumes for development, and to also consider complaints previously submitted by citizens.
Sujith Cariappa, a resident of HAL 2nd Stage, pointed out that several infrastructure works are still ongoing despite the monsoon deadline, but said it is a case of something being better than nothing. “Any roadwork in Bengaluru will definitely inconvenience the public because the city already faces critical infrastructure issues. The planning has to be such that the works do not create major inconvenience and can ensure a smoother monsoon for the public,” he said. While the announcement has been welcomed as a positive development, citizens have pointed to the large-scale digging and civic works currently underway across the city, highlighting shortcomings in the planning of civic agencies.
Civic body officials attributed the delays to the West Asia crisis and noted that several works are in their final stages. In addition, documents noted that works undertaken using the ₹2,000 crore fund must not fall under the Defect Liability Period (DLP), indicating that the spending is likely to be directed towards short-term relief measures. On the other hand, infrastructure works are set to begin in several parts of the city during the monsoon, making some inconvenience inevitable. For instance, the Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) is planning to begin the redevelopment of the Outer Ring Road (ORR) stretch during the peak monsoon period.
If new development works commence anywhere along the ORR, the stretch is likely to witness major traffic congestion. However, in a relief for residents, the GBA has directed corporations to review all complaints submitted by citizens and prioritise works related to those grievances. These include improvements to pedestrian infrastructure and the clearance of waterlogged points.
The BriefWire