BENGALURU: After promising the people of Whitefield and Mahadevpura that the underpass at Kundalahalli junction would be opened in the first half of May, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has yet again reached an impasse. This is the seventh time in a row that BBMP is missing its deadline in completing the work on the underpass that was launched in February 2019 with a six-month target.
Though the Palike had set the May deadline in April 2022, there are no signs of completing the project on the ground as the officials are still dragging their feet. In fact, there has been hardly any progress from what it was in April, according to residents.
M Lokesh, chief engineer (projects), BBMP, told TOI that they are yet to resolve the property compensation issue for three buildings that require to be acquired for the project. "Three properties are coming in the way of widening of the road as compensation to the building owners is yet to be fixed. The owners had refused the compensation offered by BBMP. After much deliberations and consultations, BBMP had offered to pay them 1.6 times the guidance value. But the owners are demanding twice the guidance value," said Lokesh.
When asked as to why did BBMP begin the project without acquiring the required land, Lokesh said: "The land acquisition process was held up at the court level for several months. Recently, the chief commissioner had agreed to deposit the money at the court for the final settlement. It is only the three buildings spread over 200sqm at the corner of the road, which have become a hurdle. The buildings have to be acquired to lay the service roads. Once it is solved, we will complete the work in a few days."
Following up on the engineers' response, TOI visited the project site and found minor works such as laying of pavements, correcting the drain network and painting of small patches are still pending. "Asphalting of the upper ramp of the underpass has been stopped due to the recent heavy rain. But we will resume it soon," an engineer said.
