BENGALURU: The tech capital's pothole problem is now big enough to warrant a new civic department. With the monsoon opening up roads and lawsuits from motorists and pedestrians pouring in, mayor Sampath Raj on Thursday instructed a major engineer be appointed "exclusively for potholes and blackspots".
"Bengaluru is a huge city. Potholes and garbage blackspots are the issues we are constantly criticised about, which is why a separate chief engineer should be appointed," Raj stated at a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Council assembly.
The choice of potholes at the town's roads turns out to have doubled since Sunday. Deputy leader minister G Parameshwara had tweeted on Sunday that 4,944 of 7,537 potholes were stuffed through BBMP.
On Thursday, BBMP officials stated 14,042 potholes were known and 11,854 of them stuffed up.
Some councillors have been sceptical of the mayor's plan, pronouncing a separate officer may not make a difference since contractors have been accountable for highway paintings. "If potholes are found on roads that are still within the liability period, then the contractor should be held responsible after a third-party inspection," stated Jayamahal corporator MK Gunashekar.
Former mayor BN Manjunatha Reddy stated BBMP was now not the only civic company to be blamed as lots of the potholes have been brought about through the BWSSB (water and sewerage board) and Bescom (power department) who have been digging up roads. "Action should be taken against them as well," he stated.
The mayor was unmoved, and issued an ultimatum. "If there is no need for a separate chief engineer, then the commissioner should give an assurance that all potholes and blackspots will be cleared in 15 days," he stated. This was only a ruling as yet, he added, but a council solution can be passed if needed.
"Bengaluru is a huge city. Potholes and garbage blackspots are the issues we are constantly criticised about, which is why a separate chief engineer should be appointed," Raj stated at a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Council assembly.
The choice of potholes at the town's roads turns out to have doubled since Sunday. Deputy leader minister G Parameshwara had tweeted on Sunday that 4,944 of 7,537 potholes were stuffed through BBMP.
On Thursday, BBMP officials stated 14,042 potholes were known and 11,854 of them stuffed up.
Some councillors have been sceptical of the mayor's plan, pronouncing a separate officer may not make a difference since contractors have been accountable for highway paintings. "If potholes are found on roads that are still within the liability period, then the contractor should be held responsible after a third-party inspection," stated Jayamahal corporator MK Gunashekar.
Former mayor BN Manjunatha Reddy stated BBMP was now not the only civic company to be blamed as lots of the potholes have been brought about through the BWSSB (water and sewerage board) and Bescom (power department) who have been digging up roads. "Action should be taken against them as well," he stated.
The mayor was unmoved, and issued an ultimatum. "If there is no need for a separate chief engineer, then the commissioner should give an assurance that all potholes and blackspots will be cleared in 15 days," he stated. This was only a ruling as yet, he added, but a council solution can be passed if needed.
Wanted: A chief engr for Bengaluru's potholes
![Wanted: A chief engr for Bengaluru's potholes]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
June 29, 2018
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