The initiative of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) to fill up potholes across the city using Rs. 30 lakh in each ward appears to have hit a roadblock, with contractors showing little interest in taking up the work.
In January, MCC announced that the civic authorities would embark on a ‘Mission Pothole Filling’ exercise across the 65 wards in the city.
When the work did not begin even by February-end, councillors cutting across party lines expressed their ire when the MCC meet. After the stormy proceedings, Mayor B.L. Byrappa directed the assistant commissioners and development officers of all the nine zones to immediately prepare a list of potholes in each ward with the help of the councillors and to submit it to the MCC commissioner’s office.
However, even after almost three months, motorists in most parts of the city continue to have to navigate past potholes, which have grown wider and deeper, even as new ones continue to form.
Suresh Babu, the superintending engineer of MCC, told The Hindu that potholes were identified in 63 of the 65 wards. Estimates were drawn up and tenders invited. “But we have got a response from no more than 20 wards,” he said.
As a result, MCC had to issue tenders afresh, hoping that contractors respond this time around.
Meanwhile, about 50 per cent of the pothole-filling work has been completed in 20 wards.
“There are very few takers for pothole-filling work as the amount involved is small. The contractors don’t show a lot of interest,” an MCC official said.
MCC Contractors’ Association president Chandrashekariah said the reason contractors aren’t enthusiastic to sign up for the work is the fact that MCC takes years to clear bills. Also, the estimates were not chalked out properly, he said.
