Citizens' groups seek to know BBMP's role in TenderSURE

Palike commissioner claims it is State government's programme

Representatives of citizens’ groups, on Saturday, questioned the role of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in execution of ongoing TenderSURE project in the City.

Meena Artwani of Campaign for People’s Participation in Urban Governance said that the Palike has turned a blind eye to works taken up under TenderSURE.

“The project was approved when Sadananda Gowda was chief minister. Jana Urban Space Foundation got an approval from the chief minister in two hours and a project consultant was appointed for the said project. The Palike officials, however, were not involved in the process. We want to know whether the corporators are part of this project, at least now,” she added.

To this, Palike Commissioner M Lakshminarayana said that TenderSURE is the programme of the State government virtually and that the project consultants were appointed by the government itself. The Commissioner also maintained that for the execution of the project, a total of Rs 100 crore has been released by the State government out of which about Rs 30 crore has been utilised so far. “As long as BBMP funds are not touched, I am not bothered,” he added.

Notices not served

A member from Federation of Street Vendors’ Union rued that Chennai-based contractor NAPC Limited has told footpath vendors to vacate their businesses. But no notices have been served to the vendors in this regard. Meanwhile, Geetha Vivekananda, Chairperson of BBMP Standing Committee for Major Works directed the Jana to see to it that the road width is being maintained properly.

Seven roads upgraded

Ganesh Kamat from NAPC said that under TenderSURE package one, about seven roads are being upgraded. “The work on Vittal Mallya Road, Commissionariat Road, Cunningham Road and Museum Road will be completed by March end. Work on Richmond Road and Residency Road is yet to start while the work on St Mark’s Road is complete by 70 per cent.

A meeting will soon be held with the BBMP Standing Committee for Major Works on road width and redesigning,” he added.

Representatives of Jana told Deccan Herald that prior to the project implementation, they had consulted the State government and BBMP.