BBMP spends Rs5 lakh, but no change in Sirsi flyover

The poor maintenance of Sirsi flyover has made it unsafe for commuters, what with an expansion joint lying in disrepair even though the deadline to fix it has expired.

Chamarajpet corporator BV Ganesh, in whose jurisdiction the flyover comes, claimed that a motorcycle’s tyre had got stuck in the damaged joint on Tuesday and people had to lend a helping hand to pull it out.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had announced that the joint would be replaced by the end of October.

However, even a month after the deadline lapsed, the preliminary work has not started, sources said. The BBMP had given the task of replacing the joint to Sunfield India but the contractor has not yet prepared the design. The BBMP, too, is allegedly not putting pressure on the contractor to speed up the work.

The source added that the BBMP has already paid Rs5 lakh to the contractor for the work. The source blamed the Palike’s engineer-in-chief for the apathy.

Whenever the expansion joints on the flyover were opened, the BBMP covered them by asphalting, which is unscientific and only a temporary measure. Owing to the heavy traffic movement on the flyover, the expansion joint in question has undergone much wear and tear. That patch on the flyover is dangerous for vehicles, particularly two-wheelers.

To fix the joints, the BBMP has floated tenders four times in the past, but no company showed interest.

It is only when the Palike floated tenders for the fifth time that Sunfield India applied for and bagged the contract. The tender amount is Rs2.65 crore and comes with a guarantee of 10 years. The length of the joint to be replaced is 194 metres.

Earlier, the BBMP engineer-in-chief BT Ramesh had said that the worn-out joints would be replaced.

Besides spending Rs2.65 crore to replace them, he said the Palike would spend Rs1.6 crore on asphalting.

Ramesh said they had a high-level meeting regarding the work on Wednesday. He said once the contractor studies the design and gives its clearance, the Palike would take up the project. However, he remained non-committal about the date by which the work will be over.

‘Will protest’
But Ganesh squarely blamed Ramesh for the pathetic condition of the flyover. He alleged that the engineer-in-chief had no concern or commitment for the work and blamed him for taking the public for granted.

The corporator warned that if the joints were not replaced soon, he would be forced to launch a protest on the flyover.