'We'll complete all BBMP works on time'

Of the 1311 small, medium and major projects, BDA has completed 733 at an estimated cost of Rs 307 crore already paid to the contractors. Another 148 projects are in progress with the BDA having prepared the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

Meanwhile, the Authority has hired four project management consultanting (PMC) firms to test the quality of the works completed and for those under progress. The four companies are Geo Struct, Karnataka Testing House Pvt Ltd, EI Technologies and Civil Aid. All the four companies have NABL accredition, according to the BDA.
In 12 constituencies where the BDA has undertaken the BBMP projects, Raja Rajeshwari Nagar Assembly Constituency tops the list with 95 percent completion. “Padmanabhanagar constituency lies at the bottom of the list as DPR of most projects are yet to be prepared,” said BDA officials.

Nonetheless, the BDA is confident of completing all the works, estimated to cost Rs. 557.2 crores within the stipulated deadline of April 2010.
Alternative projects
In lieu of many works overlapping between the civic agencies, BDA has been allotted alternative works during the last year, which according to officials has eaten into their time table for completion of works. In Yelahanka constituency alone, the BDA have been given seven alternative works instead of the 11 already allotted to them at the time of the understanding between the Government and civic agencies. “The works now entrusted to us have a lot of technicalities to be sorted out,” said an official.

UGD scare
On the other hand in the CMC areas, the BDA is facing another problem. According to officials, the old CMC areas have a trouble with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) finding no contractors for laying of Underground Drainage pipes (UGD). The reason? Houses in the CMC areas have not been connected with a UGD pipe and only have soak pits in front of their homes. As a result contractors are scared to take up the works at the Standard rates prescribed by the agencies.
“This has resulted in abnormal quotations by contractors and delay in the tendering process and further is affecting our schedule for laying concrete and tar roads,” said a BDA official.

The BDA has mooted a rotary below the Hebbal flyover to ease the traffic flow coming in from Yelahanka and K R Puram. “With only two right turns to be initiated, one from K R Puram into Hebbal and from Hebbal into Yelahanka, traffic will be smoother,” said a official. Currently, the junction houses a signal to regulate the traffic.

The Hebbal flyover, meanwhile, will be converted into a six-lane flyover from the existing four-lane by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). The BDA in this regard has already decided to hand over the flyover to the NHAI.