A rap on the knuckle from the High Court of Karnataka may have forced the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) to shift transformers and make way for pedestrians, but as the task is still in the initial stages with the power utility scurrying for alternatives, relief may not be in sight yet.
Meanwhile, another project has been introduced and pedestrians in the Central Business District (CBD) will get to see ‘transformed’ footpaths sooner. Bescom will remove transformers on the roads that will be developed under Tender SURE (Specifications for Urban Road Execution) project, conceptualised by Bangalore City Connect Foundation and executed by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Among the changes proposed are developing roads as per international standards with levelled footpaths and underground utility ducts. Under the first phase, 18 roads will be improved package-wise with Residency Road, Richmond Road, Cunningham Road, Vittal Mallya Hospital Road, St. Mark’s Road, Commissariat Road and Museum Road (10.2 km overall) being part of the first package.
Bescom Managing Director Pankaj Kumar Pandey said 11 transformers that are on footpaths are being replaced as per requirements of the project.
“We are right now replacing the transformers on the footpath to self-execution areas, near public places, or putting up a compact sub-station on four roads — Cunningham Road, Museum Road, St. Mark’s Road and Commissionerate Road. These roads are covered under Tender SURE,” he said.
He added that the cost of replacement is Rs. 6 crore, which includes the cost of replacing cables. “The footpath will not be dug-up again,” he said. The High Court of Karnataka had recently directed the BBMP and Bescom to find out the number of transformers installed on footpaths and roads in the city and submit a report indicating the time required to relocate them.
The directions were issued while hearing a petition by the family of a victim, who was allegedly electrocuted after coming in contact with the fence around a transformer on Church Street in May 2013.
