'Damage-proof' TenderSURE pavements sinking at many places

 Projected as a pedestrians’ delight, TenderSURE pavements are becoming a nightmare at many places.

TenderSURE project works were meant to last 30 years without any damage. But in just two years, the pavements are giving way. The tiles are sinking, creating a depression in the middle of the footpath like on KG Road which was completed last year.

From Shikshakara Sadan towards Mysuru Bank Circle, the tiles have caved in at four places. Further, the tiles have started sinking near the Visvesvaraya Metro Station near Central College too. On St Mark’s Road too, these tiles have started sinking. BBMP chief engineer (projects), K T Nagaraj said it is not possible for the TenderSURE footpaths to sink.

“It is compacted before the trench that is dug up to lay the ducts is watered. It can get damaged only when someone wilfully removes the tiles to repair the utilities,” Nagaraj said.

BBMP commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad said he was not aware of the damage to TenderSURE pavements.

‘Do we need costliest road?’

Traffic expert Prof M N Sreehari blamed the BBMP for the poor work. “I am fully aware of the damage to the footpaths. It has happened due to poor construction methods and material. There was no specification about the quality of the material to be used,” said Sreehari.

He said there are examples in Bengaluru where pavements have remained intact for decades while the pavements of the “costliest” TenderSURE roads are giving way in just one or two years. He said repeated damage to these roads once again raises the question whether the city needed them.

“Roads were narrowed and footpaths were widened under the TenderSURE project saying the Palike wants to make Bengaluru a ‘walking city’. Now, the pavements are also getting damaged. We should ask who is benefited since the project is helping neither the motorists nor pedestrians,” said Sreehari.