Ever since the inception of underpass project at Tagore Circle, by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), innumerable issues have cropped up. However now Corporator of Basavanagudi Ward, BS Sathyanarayana, informs, “The under pass will be open for public by March 15, this year. Utility pipes arrangement for water supply by Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) has been the reason for the delay in the underpass construction.” Corporator Sathyanarayana was to visit the Tagore Circle underpass for inspection on January 13, however, he could not make it due to some other
emergencies. But Corporator of Vishweshwarapuram Ward, S Anil Kumar along with the Mayor Shardamma, BBMP commissioner MK Shanakarlinge Gowda went on an inspection to the Tagore Circle. As Mayor Shardamma is keeping it strict to the deadline of March, work on the
underpass is going on at fast pace. Anil Kumar explained, “I am under a lot of pressure from the resident associations to complete the underpass as soon as possible.” On the progress of the work, he said, “When I visited the spot, I found the work
going on as per scheduled. Contractors and engineers have assured us that under pass will be open to the public from March, hence we will inaugurate it by then.” He also adds, “Although there will be some cosmetic works even after March, that is, the finishing work, which might take a few more weeks to complete.”
On the final estimated budget of the project, he said, “The original cost of the project was 19.5 crore and even now it stands at the same cost. However a 5 crore has been sanctioned for land acquisition as well as for the additional work. Earlier the land acquisitions was only up to 3.5 meter, which
extended to 5.5 meter, similarly footpath acquisition was up to 2.5 meter, which extended to 3.5 meter.” The project was started in 2008, and was to
be completed in 12 months. It garnered huge attention due to the controversies surrounding it. But even after almost four years problem remain the same. Remya, a resident of Tagore Circle, said, “I am surprised that the Corporator assured to complete the work by March, because work is
going on at snail pace. Traffic jams due to blocked roads has been a major problem ever since the project took off. And now dust in the road has become unbearable. All we want now is to finish the remaining work as soon as possible.” Voicing the same opinion, Shreyas, a commuter who travels from Hunumanth Nagar to Koramangala routinely, said, “After the project started roads have deteriorated highly, many potholes have developed, which was never the scene before.”
Sowmy, a resident, said, “The Corporator and the Mayor had assured us that the work will be completed soon and after the inspection, work seem to have speed up.” With so many promises coming in, from the Mayor to the Corporator, it will be interesting to watch, if the underpass will be ready by March 15, 2012.