Yet again the deadline for completion of work on the C.N.R. Rao Circle has been extended. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) now claims that all work on the underpass will be completed by the end of January 2014, while both sides of the underpass wing connecting Malleswaram and Yeshwanthpur will be opened for traffic by December 15.
Deadline extended
Mayor B.S. Sathyanarayana had first stated that the underpass would be opened on November 15. He later extended the deadline by a week.
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BBMP Commissioner M. Lakshminarayan on Monday inspected the underpass to review the progress of works and stated that the traffic would be allowed in the underpass in another fortnight. However, the link over the underpass connecting Malleswaram and Mekhri Circle will be ready only in January 2014.
Despite several inspections and many deadlines, the underpass work, which commenced on January 21, 2010 is far from complete. The BBMP had issued the work order for the Rs. 31.14-crore project on May 21, 2008.
Last year, vehicles were allowed to pass through one side of the underpass connecting Mekhri Circle and Yeshwantpur.
Threatened
This is not the first time that the deadlines have been revised, much to the chagrin of commuters. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, after inspecting the work recently, had directed the BBMP to ensure that the work is completed by December.
He had even threatened to blacklist the contractor if the work is not completed besides initiating disciplinary action against the chief engineer.
Okalipuram corridor
Later, Mr. Lakshminarayan also inspected Okalipuram junction where a signal-free corridor project has been proposed. The project has got the government approval. The land acquisition and soil-testing procedures have begun. It is said that the BBMP would discuss the modalities in this regard with the South Western Railway’s Divisional Manager.
B. Somashekhar, chairperson of the BBMP’s Standing Committee for Major Works, was present.