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Work on ‘ready-to-fit’ underpass begins

Staff Reporter

Vehicular traffic disrupted on several roads in and around Malleswaram

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

A QUICK FIX SOLUTION: Work in progress on the ‘ready-to-fit’ underpass at Cauvery junction in Bangalore on Wednesday.

BANGALORE: Amidst apprehensions and scepticism about the success of pre-cast underpasses, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) started work on the actual fixing of the first of its seven “ready-to-fit” underpasses at Cauvery junction on Wednesday.

Backed by heavy-duty equipment, BBMP staff began excavating earth on Sankey Road in front of Sadashivnagar 18th Cross Road even as sceptics stopped to wonder how a government agency could build an underpass in 72 hours. “I have my own doubts about the completion of this facility in 72 hours as claimed by BBMP officials. We have seen the functioning of BBMP in the past and we know how different it is from a private agency,” said Bala Chander, a freelance consultant who uses the Sankey Road.

But BBMP Chief Engineer (Major Roads) K.S. Krishna Reddy and BBMP Technical Adviser R. Jaiprasad and their team are confident of meeting the deadline. Two excavators, 12 dumpers, four units of soil nailing, two heavy-duty cranes and some 50 men apart from officials are at work. An estimated 1,400 cubic metres of material was excavated, which will be used to level the Veterinary College ground in Hebbal.

To check if any utility lines passed underneath the road where work is on, the civic body has got Ground Penetration Radar (GPR) for testing and soil investigation. “We have bored holes at various places to check if there is a rock beneath and started work only after that,” Mr. Reddy said.

After digging five metres below the ground level, a minor seepage from an abandoned waterline was detected at the worksite. “But that will not affect work. We have covered the seepage with filter media and have diverted it,” said Ravi Prakash, Assistant Executive Engineer (Malleswaram).

Water supply

A huge drinking water pipeline leading to Palace Guttahalli and Vyalikaval areas passing through the work spot has been rerouted in such a way that supply is not affected. “We supplied water till 10 a.m. as usual on Wednesday and then disconnected the pipeline. Supply will resume as usual on Thursday as we anyway supply water only on alternate days,” said BWSSB Chief Engineer (Maintenance) T. Venkataraju.

However, a press release from the BWSSB said water supply will be affected on Friday in parts of Malleswaram, Yeswanthpur, R.T. Nagar and Sanjayanagar.

Shunning the tradition of VIPs performing the guddali puja, BBMP Commissioner S. Subramanya got a construction worker, A. Raju, to do the honours. “I felt very happy and proud to be performing the puja for such a big project. I hope such projects will increase over the years,” a beaming Mr. Raju told The Hindu.

It was not scepticism all the way; there were those really kicked with the project. “This is what the BBMP should be doing in all its other projects. Work should be completed with minimum inconvenience to citizens as in foreign countries,” said N.S. Ramakanth, president of Kumara Krupa (West) Residents Welfare Association.

Chaos

Following the traffic diversions to facilitate work, there was chaos on all roads in the vicinity of the Bashyam Circle in Sadashivanagar. With traffic diversions in force for the Malleswaram grade separator work, the new rerouting only created more problems for motorists.

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