Bangalore roads get blacktops before elections

BANGALORE: The BJP government could not repair the targeted number of roads in its five-year regime, despite money being available for approved works. However, just before the assembly elections, it was suddenly able to take up pending road repairs and implement work orders on some of the arterial roads in the city. The classic case is the Yelahanka-Doddaballapur road, off BIA Road. The five-kilometer stretch between  Yelahanaka police station and Avalahalli (CRPF) was in a state of utter neglect for the past two years or so. Time and again, pleas of the local residents to repair this road had been overlooked by the authorities. But last weekend, asphalting machines rumbled up and overnight, the road was repaired and turned to smooth, black ribbons. A pleasant surprise considering that the election code of conduct came into effect on March 20. Apparently, the quality of work has also gone for a toss in a hurry to impress the electorate. The corporation seems to think laying roads is just about rolling bitumen. Laying a road involves much planning and not just covering it with a black top. The hasty asphalt repair clearly reflects the quality of work. Contractors who carry out roadwork should be made answerable for damage within one year of the work. But the corporation has not acted against anyone for poor quality of work," said R Raghu, a social activist. I am least interested in knowing the reason behind the instant road development programme. I am content that our five-year demand for good roads has been finally fulfilled,'' said K S Kusha, a resident of a nearby apartment. Not just in Yelahanka, most of the lanes and bylanes in the residential areas of the city were widened overnight and given a fresh coat of asphalt, some with concrete -- be it HSR or HRBR layouts. Whatever the treatment, and speed of work, it came as a great relief to road users -- never before did one have so many blacktop roads laid simultaneously, especially in residential localities. Do such ploy work in elections? It is apparently a pre-planned move to please voters. Middle-class people definitely will fall prey to such steps,'' said Sandya Bangalore in-charge minister R Ashoka maintained that the ongoing road repairs are a routine matter and that funds were allocated long ago. There is nothing wrong with the construction work on roads as it was started long before the implementation of code of conduct,'' said Yelahanka MLA S R Vishwanath.   Source: TOI