Bengaluru: Rs 1.39 crore for a road which doesn’t even exist!

Bengaluru: What is the cost of a 600-metre road in need of urgent repairs in Bengaluru? If BBMP records are anything to go by, then the agency would peg it at Rs 1.39 crore. Except, there is one major flaw. The road mentioned in the BBMP records as having cost a staggering Rs 1.39 crores simply does not exist.

Deccan Chronicle drove down to this so called road which has been “repaired” with tax-payers money in Doddanekundi and discovered a dirt road that snakes its way past Vibgyor High School in Mahadevapura, with no sign of a road-roller or cans of tar to show construction activity.

Yet, according to the list of works announced by the BBMP, the road in Doddanekundi was built in two phases.  The first phase was completed in May last year at the cost of Rs 85 lakh. The second phase was completed  at a cost of Rs 54 lakh. BBMP records further state the development of Vibgyor High School Road (from Thubarahalli Road) was handed over to Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) which asphalted the road.

On “completion” of the first phase, the BBMP released Rs 85 lakh in May last year. Who did this money go to? In January, this year, the BBMP released another Rs 54.08 lakh for works “completed” in the second phase.

Ask Mahadevapura commissioner N.Devaraj about it and this is what he has to say: “Only partial works are completed as a portion of the road is under litigation. The remaining work will be taken up soon, wet mix was recently laid.”

Asked why Rs 1.39 crores in funds were released when the road was not done, Mr N. Devaraj, the zonal commissioner said: “It does not come under me. The Chief Engineer releases funds for works that are completed.”

Vishal.S, a resident of Whitefield said the dirt road has not seen even one worker. "The BBMP claims works were completed in January, about four months ago. We have not seen any works take place here at all. It's just a blatant lie," he said.