The widening of Sankey Road, the stretch between Bashyam Circle and Ayyappa Temple here, will be taken up in a month. The controversial project was challenged in the High Court of Karnataka and recently, the court directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to complete the work within a year.
To a query on the issue at the Janaspandana programme here on Tuesday, BBMP’s Superintending Engineer K.T. Nagaraj said that the work would be taken up soon as the High Court had directed the BBMP to complete it by December. “We have sought help from technical experts so that work can be taken up without affecting the tank bund. We have asked the Indian Institute of Science to provide two or three alternatives.”
The BBMP will have to fell 34 trees on the stretch (17 of them have been felled). The remaining trees will go soon. “We need cooperation from the public to take up the work,” Mr. Nagaraj added.
Delayed underpass
About the inordinate delay in completing the construction of the C.N.R. Rao Junction underpass, he said that the two service roads and one bay (from Yeshwanthpur to Malleswaram) will be thrown open to traffic on July 15. He attributed the delay in construction to the problems in shifting of utilities and land acquisition. “There were problems in the joint venture between the two contractors. The contractor with 25 per cent stake (Madhava Hytech) has been removed and the project has been completely handed over to ECCI,” he said.
Citizens had raised concerns over the narrow service roads near the Yeshwantpur flyover. Engineer-in-Chief B.T. Ramesh said that the BBMP would acquire two buildings, which would be demolished next week to widen the service lane.
Sampige Road
On widening of Sampige Road, especially the stretch near Mantri Square, he said that the Mantri group had sought a stay order from the High Court. “We are taking steps to get the stay order vacated. Also, the builder has to develop a 60-ft road behind the mall. He has sought time as the Namma Metro construction is still going on,” he said.
