Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday promised the citizens of Bangalore that the government would extend all possible assistance to the BBMP for repairing roads in the city and that “the landscape of Bangalore will be changed within few months”.
Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for an underpass at Magadi Main Road and Siddaiah Puranik Road Junction, the chief minister said the state government had allocated Rs 560 crore for asphalting 400-km length of roads in the city. More than 200 roads would be asphalted and developed within a few months, he said.
“Most of the main roads in the city are in the worst possible condition. I am told the authorities were busy in asphalting interior roads all these years. Now, the time has come for us to focus on main roads,’’ the chief minister said.
“I think concrete roads will last long. I want the BBMP to construct concrete roads wherever such roads are viable in the city,” he said.
Bangalore has been known for many things such as gardens, IT & BT companies, aerospace and also as a knowledge city, but when it comes to infrastructure, especially roads, it lags behind other cities, Siddaramaiah observed.
Advising the BBMP to not float tenders for asphalting roads and filling potholes, the chief minister said: “The process of floating tenders to invite bidders will consume lot of time. I want the BBMP authorities to allocate the asphalting and pot-hole filling work to the Land Army. I have already told Land Army authorities to ensure quality in the work.”
Circular rail
On Bangalore South MP Ananth Kumar’s suggestion of pressing the Centre for circular rail in Bangalore, he said he would take an all-party delegation to Delhi in this regard and meet Union ministers and the prime minister.
Siddaramaiah said development of Bangalore should be above party politics, and advised that no leader should politicise the development issues.
Concrete roadmap
The state government has allocated Rs 560 crore for asphalting of 400 km length of roads.
More than 200 roads will be asphalted and developed in the next few months.
CM says he has been told that will now, authorities were occupied in asphalting interior roads. Now they will focus on main roads.
Recommends concrete roads, saying they last longer than tarred roads.
CM recommends Land Army for asphalting and filling potholes over calling tenders for the same.
