Bengaluru: When a BWSSB engineer decides to use loose mud to fill potholes instead of repairing the road using proper tools and material, not only the quality of the recently-laid stretch goes down, but also motorists and residents suffer. In Whitefield, a shoddy job done by the BWSSB has turned main roads and bylanes into paddy fields!
“In the last two weeks, vehicles have caved in while driving on Outer Circle Road. The BWSSB dug it up to lay sewage pipes and did not cover the trenches properly. They used loose soil, which cannot withstand the weight of trucks and cars,” said resident of the area, Pravir Bagrodia. Nobody is hurt so far, but residents are apprehensive that a serious accident is waiting to happen if the road is not repaired, Mr Bagrodia says.
Those living on Outer Circle Road said that the digging started December 28 last year, and has been progressing at a painfully slow rate. “They use only one earthmover for digging. Once the pipes are laid, the trench is not covered with crushed stones and wet mix. No compressor or compactor is used. When the road sinks, the BWSSB brings in more mud to fill the patch,” complained Mr Dilip James, who stays on the road.
As if the damage done was not bad enough, the road, which has turned into a virtual “paddy field”, was dug once more. “Drain cleaning work was taken up recently. After that tractor came to the spot and dumped mud. Work is being done only in patches. There are muddy patches every 25 metres and all the bylanes have been dug up. There is a cloud of dust whenever a vehicle passes through this stretch,” Mr James said. On 5th Cross, a van was stuck when it went over the loose mud recently. How many more vehicle should get stuck before the civic authorities wake up, asked the residents.
‘Road will be redone’
Interview with Uday Kumar, Hagadur ward Corporator
What is the progress of works on the Outer Circle Road?
Recently, BWSSB Assistant Engineer Anand was suspended for not following the procedure for road development. He was supposed to use wet mix, water and do the levelling, but he just dumped mud. The BBMP asphalted the road just three months ago. The AEE and AE went ahead and dug up the road without our permission. They were supposed to maintain the quality of the road, but did not follow the rules.
What will be done now?
There were many complaints from the residents and BBMP, and the engineer was suspended just two days ago by the Urban Development Department. The BWSSB is appointing a new assistant engineer. The sewage pipe laying work has been done, only the road restoration work remains. The road will be redone with proper wet mix and levelling.
