Bengaluru: White topping puts traffic on slow lane
29 roads and six major junctions to get concrete cover.
BENGALURU: With just few months to go for the Assembly elections, the BBMP has started work on white topping roads across the city.
However, the simultaneous work at various places across the city has turned into a nightmare for commuters, including those coming to central business district, as it has led to traffic gridlocks at many places.
“Earlier it used to take 30 minutes to cross the BHEL junction, but now it takes more than 2 hours. The road is very narrow. They should have at least provided some alternative path," said Vinay, a commuter from Rajarajeshwari Nagar.
The residents on Mysuru Road complain that the work happens only when elections are nearby. The white topping project, worth '724 crore will be carried out on 29 roads and six major junctions for 93.47 km, as a permanent solution to the city’s pothole woes.
This is said to be one of the biggest projects in the city. The major roads like Outer Ring Road, Mysuru Road, Brigade Road, Hosur Road, Bannerghatta Road, Sarjapur Road and Tumakuru Road will also be revamped.
'BBMP using old technique'
Prof. M.N. Srihari, traffic expert and an advisor to state government on infrastructure, said, “White topping is a four-year-old technology. This kind of facility should have been done way back. They are doing it now because people can remember it. Why are they using the same old technique like gunny bag instead of using chemicals which have fast curing properties? The wet gunny bags have to be left for curing for minimum 21 days, but they are removing after three days. Without proper curing or the usage of sustainable material the road will develop cracks."
Not a poll tactic, says Mayor Mayor Sampath Raj said the project was funded one-and-half-years back and the construction was supposed to start in September itself, but due to heavy rain it had to be postponed.
“We have given so many 'Bhagyas' before. All the recent projects will take a minimum of 8-9 months including white topping, so we are not doing it for elections,” he said.