Over two years after construction started on the C.N.R. Rao Circle underpass — connecting Malleswaram and Mekhri Circle to Yeswanthpur — the Rs. 30.14 crore project is far from over.
On Tuesday, students from colleges in and around Malleswaram, along with residents of the area, protested against the inordinate delay in the project’s execution, shouting slogans against the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike.
V. Gnanamurthy, co-convener, Save Bangalore Committee, said the work order for the construction of this underpass was issued way back in 2008, but actual construction was started only in January 2010. “But even then, the contractors have [missed] the deadline, with just 60 per cent of the work done,” he said.
Tens of hundreds of commuters suffer daily as the road near the underpass has been closed, forcing them to take a lengthy deviation.
S. Shobha, member of Jagrutha Nagarikara Sanghatane, said residents were fed up. “Why should a project like this take years together here?” she asked.
Anand Sirur, president of Malleswaram Swabhimaan Association, said: “The blame game among contractors and BBMP will not serve the cause in any way. We want this underpass to be completed immediately.” Even the contractors who are blacklisted are given fresh projects, he alleged.
