BBMP issues work order for asphalt and tender for white-topping on the same day

3rd Main Road in Chamarajpet, Bengaluru. | Photo credit: K. fortune light

In what is perceived as unnecessary expenditure, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has started digging up new asphalt roads to white-top them, sparking outrage.

It has been revealed that the civil body has issued a work order for asphalting seven roads of Chamarajpet on February 2, 2024 and on the same day tenders have been called for whitewashing of the same roads.

According to the document accessed by HinduBBMP issued work order on February 2, 2024 for comprehensive development of roads, drains and footpaths, 2nd Main Road, 3rd Main Road, 5th Main Road, 7th Cross, 9th Cross, Pampa Mahakavi Road, 1st Cross, Albert Victor Road, First main at Chamarajpet.

Tenders were invited for the work on 17th September, 2022. Star Infratech won the tender, and the work was completed. The total cost of the project was Rs 23 crore.

For white-topping, BBMP issued a work order to JMC Construction Pvt Ltd on June 20, 2024, and the total cost of the project was estimated at ₹ 98 crore. The work order included extensive pavement development in addition to white-topping. This means, within months, the BBMP will spend an additional Rs 98 crore on asphalted roads at a cost of Rs 23 crore.

The BBMP issued a tender for white-topping after Chamarajpet MLA BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan asked the BBMP chief engineer to execute the project on priority. The letter was written on 26 October 2023. Mr Ahmed was not available for comment.

The slippers are moved

President of Chamrajpet Nagrikara Okkuta Sriram Gowda said that the civic body has violated its own rules. According to the rules set by the civic body, there is a ban on road digging for three years from the date of completion of the work. Digging roads by other agencies is not unusual. But the BBMP itself has violated the rules in this matter,” he said. He demanded immediate withdrawal of the work order to make these roads white as they were recently blacked.

An investigation has been ordered

Chief Civil Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath said Hindu He said that he has directed the Engineer-in-Chief of the civic body to investigate the matter.