The roads leading to the Palace Grounds are getting asphalted and the potholes are being filled. These improvement works are in preparation for the global investors’ meet - Invest Karnataka -  to be hosted at the iconic Palace Grounds next month.

Also, BBMP has deployed mechanical sweepers to clean the roads in the City, especially the ones leading to the Palace Grounds. They have identified 36 roads such as Race Course Road, Cubbon Road, Palace Road, Sankey Road, Kumara Krupa Road and Palace Guttalli Road for the clean-up act.

BBMP Commissioner G Kumar Naik told Deccan Herald on Wednesday that the Palike had two mechanical sweepers of its own and two had been hired from private contractors. As per the government’s direction, the Palike is using them on 36 prime roads ahead of the meet.

Lakshman, chairperson of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), said that using such sweepers was a good idea as around 20 per cent of pollution in the City was due to dust. Through this, the government wants to portray the city as clean and green.

However, people have started questioning as to why these vehicles are not used frequently as Bengaluru has, of late, earned the sobriquet of ‘asthma capital’. They demand that these vehicles should be used regularly on prime roads, especially where works are on and dust pollution is high.

‘Use them often’

“I am surprised to learn that the government has dust-cleaning vehicles. They should be a part of every road construction, especially where Tender SURE work is on. They should run regularly on the City roads,” said Lakshmi K, a commuter.Meghana R, a student, said that the government was bothered only about its image and not about people’s health.

“If the government is concerned, such vehicles will be used more often. These vehicles are deployed only before asphalting work,” she said. Naik said that these vehicles will be used for other prime roads in the City too in the days to come.
More vehicles

The BBMP was planning to buy more of these vehicles to use them on major arterial and sub-arterial roads.