JOIN USThe work on widening Bangalore-Mysore Road, which has been dragging on for the last three years, will be completed by October 31, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah promised here on Thursday.
The announcement has come as a major relief to commuters for whom the stretch has become a traffic nightmare. Work on widening the two-km stretch from Sirsi Circle to Nayandahalli junction began up on May 3, 2010 and was estimated to cost about Rs 18 crore. The deadline was 15 months.
Responding to a question by K Govindraju (Congress) in the Legislative Council, Siddaramaiah said the primary reason for the delay in completing the road widening was the hurdle in acquiring land and the legal wrangles associated with it.
Besides, the delay in granting permission to cut trees and acquisition of land from two graveyards contributed to the inordinate hold-up. Siddaramaiah said the State government’s offer of transferrable developmental rights (TDR) to property owners had few takers. “Some of them moved the court against the TDR,” he said.
In addition, the shifting of Bescom overhead cables, transformers, BSNL junction box and BWSSB drainage pipes further delayed the process. The BBMP paid Bescom Rs 6.30 crore, BWSSB Rs 1.13 crore and BSNL Rs 23 lakh to shift their properties.
The shifting of properties and eviction of 40 shops is nearing completion. He promised the government would consider blacklisting, and imposing fine on, firms who cause inordinate delay in completing infrastructure projects in the City.