White-topping on Commercial Street completed

Shopkeepers to be consulted before road is opened to motorists

After months of undergoing a makeover followed by white-topping, work on Commercial Street is finally completed, much to the relief of traders and store owners. The authorities will take a call on when to allow motorists to use the newly laid stretch on Monday. P. Rajendra Cholan, managing director of Bengaluru Smart City Ltd. (BSCL), which undertook the project, told The Hindu that a decision would be taken after consultations with traders and other stakeholders.

The BSCL had taken up the relaying of the road, one of the more popular shopping destinations in the city, at cost of ₹5.5 crore in May 2020. In July 2021, the road was officially inaugurated but the BSCL was called out for “shoddy work” after the colourful tiles and cobblestones started wearing out within days. As a corrective measure, the authorities decided to white-top the road.