Stirred by ORR Rising, Palike plans to give Sarjapur Road a facelift

The Outer Ring Road (ORR) Sarjapur Rising protest held a week ago has spurred the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike into action. The civic agency is now undertaking pothole-filling drive at Sarjapur, that has been a long pending demand of the local people.

Raghavendra Prasad, BBMP Executive Engineer (Major Roads) Mahadevapura, said that a total of five km stretch along Sarjapur Road will be asphalted in the next three months. However, potholes will be filled at regular intervals all through the year. In addition, desilting of drainage will also be taken up, he added.

 "We are undertaking pothole-filling drive and  laying of concrete roads at Varthur, Hoodi, Hope Farm Junction and other pockets of Mahadevapura. However, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board ( BWSSB) is digging the upgraded roads , particularly the Sarjapur Road,  resulting in potholes again," Prasad added.

Rajani Vellore, a member of ORR Sarjapur Rising, said that the residents were happy that Palike was executing civic works. "However, we hope that quality is ensured while implementing the projects. It should be not be a overnight shoddy work and that asphalt washes away with a few bouts of rain,” she said.

The representatives of ORR Sarjapur Rising met Bengaluru Development Minister K J George recently to submit a memorandum, with a list of the problems they have been facing. The minister said that the model code of conduct for elections to Legislative Council was in force and hence the information in infrastructure projects would be shared with the people after the conclusion of elections.

Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) officials who were also present during the meeting asked the residents to submit a list of encroachments along ORR Sarjapur Road, so that they can take steps to clear them.

Some the demands listed out by the citizens included fixing of potholes, laying of new roads, construction of bus bays , removal of encroachments on major roads and service roads of ORR among others. They had hit the streets on December 18, demanding the government and civic agencies  to provide better civic infrastructure.