The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BBMP buckles under pressure from contractors

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Friday, Jun 06, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

BBMP buckles under pressure from contractors

Krishnaprasad

Bangalore: Instead of building a cost-effective underpass using pre-cast technology at a cost of Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 3 crore, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is reportedly planning to construct an underpass using conventional method by spending over Rs. 55 crore owing to pressure from a cartel of contractors, consultants and engineers.

According to highly placed sources in the BBMP, the cartel has partially succeeded in pressuring the administration to shelve the idea to build the underpass at Channamma Circle in Padmanabhanagar using pre-cast elements — popularly known as magic boxes.

A private firm, authorised by the BBMP, had submitted a detailed project report to build the underpass using conventional method at Channamma Circle and the report had indicated that the project would require about Rs 55 crore

However, following the successful implementation of cost-effective magic box underpasses on Sankey Road and Bellary Road, the BBMP had decided to use the cost-effective magic boxes to build underpass at Channamma Circle.

Sources said that it would require only about Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 3 crore to build underpass using magic box at Channamma Circle as against the high cost involved in conventional method.

Also, the underpass using magic box can be completed within two to three months (depending on weather) as against over two years required to build underpass using conventional method.

Moreover, some private properties adjacent to the circle have to be acquired to build underpass using conventional method and land acquisition would delay the process of commencement and completion, the sources added.

Profit margin

However, the sources said, the cartel is against the magic box concept as it does not give scope for huge profit margin and cost escalation, and is trying to project in poor light the concept of building magic box underpass, use of which successfully reduced traffic congestion on Sankey Road and Bellary Road.

“Why should the civic body spend over Rs. 50 crore from public money when a solution is available at a much lower cost without compromising on the quality?” is the question posed by frustrated officials.

Sources also said that the concept of low-cost magic box underpass faced opposition from the beginning from some groups within the government agenciesHowever, the cartel could not interfere much as it assumed the BBMP would use the magic box underpass only for early completion of works on Bellary Road to provide connectivity to the international airport. With the BBMP now extending the cost-effective concept to east traffic congestion in other parts of city, the members of cartel are fuming.

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