The fight against bad roads and lack of infrastructure in the capital of Karnataka has taken a new turn, with the Karnataka High Court ordering the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the local administrative body of Bengaluru, to start filling the potholes immediately. The order comes after the BBMP issued a project circular (called Package-A) on April 20 2022, for the repair of 182km long major roads in the city.
This comes amid severe backlash faced by the BBMP by the local citizenry after multiple road deaths were recorded of late due to various reasons ranging from potholes, un-asphalted roads, water-filled underpasses, and accidents caused by over-speeding BBMP garbage trucks and even waterlogging. This raised several questions about the BBMP's failure in preventing these mishaps and ensuring smooth administration.
To provide some relief in the end, the potholes in the city will be filled using a machine called Python, which is operated by American Road Technology and Solutions Pvt Ltd, the organization undertaking the project.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice SR Krishna Kumar reportedly passed the order saying that the court is of the view that respondent 11 (the company, American Road Technology and Solutions Pvt. Repair of potholes on major roads as per work order (Package-A) dated 20th April 2022.
However, reports said that the respondents drew attention to the fact that the BBMP has quoted rates far below the Public Works Department (PWD) prescribed rate for filling pits using machines, which is about Rs. 1,249 per hour, and argued that the company is entitled to PWD rates for the prescribed work done by them.
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