Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike began the construction on March 2 and is taking up work only during night to avoid traffic hindrance during daytime.
On the first two days, workers dug the road and prepared the ground to place pre-cast box structures. But the work did not progress beyond that.
Khalid, owner of Nishi’s Little Shoppe at the junction said, “Work went on in full swing for the first four days. We were under the impression that the underpass would be ready in record time.”
When this reporter visited the spot on Wednesday at 11 am, only three workers were engaged in preparing the ground for ramps on either side of pre-cast elements.
Earth movers were not used for the purpose, the shop owners complained.
Abdullah, owner of a retail shop alleged that in the first four days the Palike used earth movers to dig the ground. The heavy machine apparently disappeared after that.
“The work has taken away the parking yard in front of the shop and business has come down by 40 per cent altogether”, Khalid said.
No work in night
A traffic police officer says, “Traffic policemen have been deployed everywhere to divert traffic. After pre-cast elements were placed the work has not progressed. The Palike officers tell us that they will take up work in the night. To help them we deploy our people in the night as well. But hardly any work is taken up during the night.”
However the Palike denies these allegations. BBMP Chief Engineer (Major Roads) K S Krishna Reddy said “Work is not slow, but people are under impression that work is slow as no machinery is used. We hardly get seven hours in the night. Once the concrete is laid work will go on at a faster pace.”