JOIN USGIS-based road history project yet to become a reality
After stalling the launch of Geographical Information System (GIS)- based road history, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) engineers have now found ways to dodge information on public works that are meant to go online for everyone to see.
The GIS-based road history maps all the roads across Bengaluru where each road is given an unique identity number. Once implemented, every civil work carried out by the BBMP in a particular area will be registered. The unique identity number of the road is also supposed to be mentioned in the tender wherever the work is taking place, to avoid duplication. The project started five years ago and was supposed to end in a year. However, the work is nowhere closer to completion.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the then Bengaluru in charge minister Ramalinga Reddy had exuded confidence in September last that the GIS-based road history will be completed by November. Eight months have passed since the completion of deadline. But the Palike is not yet able to launch it officially.
A BBMP official associated with the project said, “The entire GIS is ready and can be launched anytime. Already we have put up road history online on a trial basis. Contractors, politicians and engineers are stalling its implementation. Engineers are not ready to feed information in the system.”
He said engineers have found ways to dodge information and create 'space' for duplication of works in the road history.
The application is meant for uploading the completed work with bills and other details. But the engineers have posted work orders too on the road history application.
“There is a deliberate attempt to sabotage our efforts. The engineers and contractors have created scope for prolonging the completion of work by posting work orders whereas the intention of road history is to inform people whether any work was carried out in a particular road or not,” the official said.
The GIS-based road history blocks duplication of works. Suppose a road has been tarred and the details are fed in the online road history portal, work order and bills for the same road cannot be generated for the next three years.
Malleswaram Assembly constituency, where the GIS-based road history is going on in full swing, is not devoid of challenges. The Palike engineers have reportedly rebelled against putting three years' information on the portal.
BBMP Commissioner Manjunatha Prasad said, “Officers involved in the project have told me that 95% of the work is over. I have not checked the latest position.”
Kadu Malleswara corporator G Manjunath Raju of the BJP said that for the last three years he has been hearing that 95% of the work is over. “I would like to know who is blocking the 5% work for the last five year.”