AFFECTING TRAFFIC: Construction material dumped on the Lower Agaram Road in Bangalore hampering the movement of vehicles. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE: Motorists using the Lower Agaram Road have been put to hardship for the last two months as work on the upgradation of the road has been progressing at a snail's pace.

The stretch from the road to Ejipura Main Road has become a dangerous one as mud, slabs and other construction material are dumped on it leaving little space for motorists. While one half is covered with construction material, the other half is not asphalted. This has made life miserable for road users who have to reach Neelsandra, Viveknagar and Koramangala from Mahatma Gandhi Road and Brigade Road and vice-versa.

The road, being upgraded by the Karnataka Land Army Corporation (KLAC) under the IT-BT Fast Track Project for the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP), has been dug up recently to remove silt from the storm water drain and also relaying of the drain covers. But the progress of work has been very slow hindering traffic. So much so that even the expert committee set up by the Karnataka High Court to look into the status of roads in Bangalore, has expressed displeasure over the delay in completing the work.

The committee, which was also concerned about the slow progress of work on roads being upgraded under the Karnataka Municipal Reforms Project (KMRP), is all set to record the "slow progress of work under both these projects" in its fourth report to be submitted to the Court by May 15.

Captain Raja Rao, who heads the committee, told The Hindu that the committee had observed that the BMP is not following the exact procedure of road upgradation. "We have noted that priority is being given only for asphalting and not drain works. It is required to complete drain works first and then start asphalting. But the BMP has been doing both these things simultaneously. This is what they are doing on Lower Agaram Road. Though we have already pointed this out to the BMP, we will also record it in our fourth and final report," Capt. Rao said.

KLAC Joint Director Venkatesh Murthy said work on all the IT-BT roads would be completed by May 15. "There is more work on Lower Agaram Road, because it is a long stretch. We are trying to complete work on this road by May 15. If the material on the road is causing hardship to motorists, we will get it cleared immediately," he said.

BMP Executive Engineer (KMRP) K. Siddegowda said work on the project has gained momentum.

"There was a delay initially because the Hyderabad-based contractor entrusted with the work had to mobilise men and material. Work on five roads — Koramangala 80 Feet Road, N.R. Square Road, Kammanahalli Road, Bannerghatta Road and Magadi Road — taken up under the first phase will be completed by May 15," he added.

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