BANGALORE: The lethargy of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in implementing Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) project means that water-logging may continue to haunt Lord Hanuman of the Gali Anjaneya Temple for several months to come.
Joining the Lord in mute suffering are the residents of the area and the commuters bearing the brunt of the never-ending construction work of a grade separator at Gali Anjaneya junction. BBMP misses yet another deadline to complete work on the grade separator at Gali Anjaneya junction.
The grade separator or bridge was approved in 2007 for Rs 31.03 crore by the Central government under the JnNurm. As per the detailed project report, work on this bridge was to be completed by December 2008. But, three years later, the project is nowhere near completion.
According to the JnNurm website, September 2011 was another deadline for the BBMP, but, the civic agency was showing only 82 per cent progress so far. However, BBMP officials informed Express that the deadline was extended until December, 2011. “We levied Rs 3.02 lakh penalty from the concerned contractor for the delay,” said an official.
A reality check by City Express revealed that there was no real progress as claimed by BBMP. corporator of Gali Anjaneya Ward Anand said, “We need to put eight pillars around a 20-meter stretch of the proposed half-kilometer bridge. It will take at least another four months to complete the work.” By his calculation, work will end only in January, 2012, forcing BBMP to miss yet another deadline. Worse, improper planning while executing the work is inconveniencing the public.
“The workers have raised pillars in the middle of the storm water drain, limiting the flow. This is the reason for drain water overflowing onto temple premises. Consecutive chief ministers have visited our temple. But, in vain,” said a staff member of the temple.
The reason given by officials was the lack of coordination among various departments working on the project. Also, the deadlines were not taken seriously by the BBMP officials though the funding under JnNURM ceases with effect from December 12, 2012.
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