Internal letter reveals differing views on Rs 11.5 crore road makeover project in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: More than seven roads — upgraded under the TenderSURE guidelines at a significantly higher cost and still in good condition — are now being considered for another makeover.

What's more, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) plans to allocate Rs 11.50 crore for their “comprehensive development”, when only about 40 per cent of that amount would be sufficient to maintain these roads for the next two years.

These concerns are not being raised by citizen activists or former councillors, but by M Lokesh, Chief Engineer of BBMP’s Projects (Central) Department.

In a letter dated March 3, Lokesh recommended removing seven roads from the BBMP's new plan to resurface 389.68 km of roads at an estimated cost of Rs 694 crore. This action plan was approved by the Urban Development Department (UDD) last November and includes a total of 218 roads.

Among the roads earmarked for resurfacing are Richmond Road, Commissariat Road, St Mark’s Road, Museum Cross Road, Cunningham Road, Vittal Mallya Hospital Road, and KG Road.

For the first time, these stretches were developed to “world-class” standards in 2017-18, featuring separate underground utilities, uniform carriageways, and pedestrian-friendly footpaths.

Lokesh pointed out that these roads are still in excellent condition, despite being developed by the Projects (Central) Department in 2017-18. He also noted that in 2019-20, the department had proposed to maintain these roads for two years with an allocation of Rs 4.10 crore.

"Following the advice of the engineer-in-chief, the chief commissioner dropped the proposal and transferred responsibility for these roads to the Road Infrastructure Department in March 2021," he said, adding that some of them were taken up for micro-surfacing.

The letter, addressed to BBMP’s Engineer-in-Chief BS Prahlad, was also sent to UDD Additional Chief Secretary SR Umashankar and BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath.

In response, Prahlad defended the inclusion of these roads in the action plan, explaining that they were developed more than five years ago. He clarified that while the term “comprehensive development” was used, the funds were specifically allocated for micro-surfacing the main carriageway.

Lokesh, however, reiterated in his letter that there is no need to spend Rs 11.5 crore on these roads, as they remain in good condition. He suggested that the funds would be better spent on routine maintenance such as repairing footpaths, cleaning rainwater chambers, providing lane markings, and repainting bollards, among others.