<p>The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has sought compensation for the damages caused to its buses because of the waterlogging at the Seshadripuram railway overbridge. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Sources in the Transport Department said that in the last five years, five buses (two belonging to BMTC and three to KSRTC) remained submerged overnight, during heavy rains. <br /><br />“We assessed the damages caused to the organisation and prepared a report. The report has already been sent to the BBMP seeking compensatory damages. The buses sometimes cannot be used for some weeks, while there is always a danger that the engine doesn’t work because of getting submerged in the water for long,” Anand, General Manager (Technical), BMTC, told Deccan Herald. The BBMP is yet to reply to the report, the official said.<br /><br />A senior BMTC official said that the two buses which were submerged during the heavy rains that lashed the City on September 25 are being serviced. The official said that a similar incident happened in 2010 and BBMP had not taken any action despite sending a report. <br /><br />“There is no proper underground drainage system at the Seshadripuram bridge. The buses get stuck because safety of passengers is the priority for the driver and the conductor. By this time, the water rises above the door level and they leave the bus on the spot. The issue has been brought to the notice of BBMP as well as Railways. However, no action has been initiated,” an official said.<br /><br />Transport Minister and in-charge minister for Bangalore Urban, Ramalinga Reddy, said that 300 slums that have come up near the bridge have become a major hurdle in taking up any work. <br /><br />“I am not aware of BMTC sending a report to BBMP. However, we are working on a plan to solve this problem. We had installed two pumps at the bridge to clear water during rains. However, one pump was not working last Thursday. The problem is that the water from the drain doesn’t flow out because of the silt. I have discussed with the officials to rehabilitate the slum dwellers, so that work could be started,” he said.<br /></p>
<p>The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has sought compensation for the damages caused to its buses because of the waterlogging at the Seshadripuram railway overbridge. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Sources in the Transport Department said that in the last five years, five buses (two belonging to BMTC and three to KSRTC) remained submerged overnight, during heavy rains. <br /><br />“We assessed the damages caused to the organisation and prepared a report. The report has already been sent to the BBMP seeking compensatory damages. The buses sometimes cannot be used for some weeks, while there is always a danger that the engine doesn’t work because of getting submerged in the water for long,” Anand, General Manager (Technical), BMTC, told Deccan Herald. The BBMP is yet to reply to the report, the official said.<br /><br />A senior BMTC official said that the two buses which were submerged during the heavy rains that lashed the City on September 25 are being serviced. The official said that a similar incident happened in 2010 and BBMP had not taken any action despite sending a report. <br /><br />“There is no proper underground drainage system at the Seshadripuram bridge. The buses get stuck because safety of passengers is the priority for the driver and the conductor. By this time, the water rises above the door level and they leave the bus on the spot. The issue has been brought to the notice of BBMP as well as Railways. However, no action has been initiated,” an official said.<br /><br />Transport Minister and in-charge minister for Bangalore Urban, Ramalinga Reddy, said that 300 slums that have come up near the bridge have become a major hurdle in taking up any work. <br /><br />“I am not aware of BMTC sending a report to BBMP. However, we are working on a plan to solve this problem. We had installed two pumps at the bridge to clear water during rains. However, one pump was not working last Thursday. The problem is that the water from the drain doesn’t flow out because of the silt. I have discussed with the officials to rehabilitate the slum dwellers, so that work could be started,” he said.<br /></p>