Smart City roads turn nightmare for motorists, pedestrians

BBMP Civic Commissioner flags waterlogging, delay in completion of works, lack of coordination as major issues plaguing incomplete roads

Roads being developed under Smart City in the Central Business District area are proving to be a nightmare for motorists and pedestrians as many stretches have become susceptible to waterlogging with heavy rains lashing the city almost every day. Residents and store owners on Commercial Street, Ulsoor Road, Miller’s Road and several other key roads where works are on have raised the issue multiple times.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta himself recently flagged the issue, along with delay in completion of works. “On many roads, the gratings put up to allow water to enter the drains are above the road level causing waterlogging, inconvenience to motorists and ruining the road surface as well. These need to be fixed immediately,” Mr. Gupta said in his letter dated October 16 to the Managing Director, Bengaluru Smart City Ltd. A copy of the letter is available with The Hindu.

When contacted, Rajendra Cholan, MD, Bengaluru Smart City Ltd., admitted that rains had hindered work. We are waiting for three rainless days to lay Dense Bituminous Macadam (0.7 inches) on 16 roads, he said. However the gratings were installed taking into consideration the 0.7 inches of DBM which is not yet laid, and hence they are currently above road level.