BANGALORE: Chinmaya Mission Hospital Road was once upon a time a proud commercial hub of Indiranagar. From super markets to restaurants, it had it all. However, due to the exponential growth of the city and her new needs, the once crowded market area, now bares a look of disdain. As the metro’s construction progressed, the commercial activity in the locality began taking the brunt. Many small shops had to shut shop due to the loses incurred in their daily businesses.The road below the metro was in a battered condition until recently when the BMRCL relayed the entire stretch after the construction on CMH Road was over. But, the relatively new road now has a number of potholes. “I was thrilled to bits the day the road was relayed. Though it was not as wide as it used to be, but nevertheless, it was in a motorable condition,” said Pankaj, a resident of 80 Feet Road. This happiness however, seems to be short lived, as the road has once again begun harbouring potholes that are almost 50 centimetres wide. What makes matters worse is that due to the low visibility on the road at night, one realises the presence of these craters very late.According to Shiv Shankar, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike joint commissioner East, “The roads under the metro are the BMRCL’s responsibility. They are supposed to look into repairs of the road.” According to the Palike officials all repair and maintenance work of the roads have to be undertaken by BMRCL. The BBMP will only step in once all the metro work has been completed.On the other hand the BMRCL seems to be clearly washing their hands off the responsibility of maintaining these road. BMRCL superintendent engineer, Muniswamappa said that while it is their responsibility to asphalt the road, the maintenance is the Palike’s headache. “Once the metro construction is completed, the BBMP will re-asphalt all the roads below the metro track. Everything will be done by them while the BMRCL will split 50 per cent of the entire cost,” he said. He also maintained that the Palike is in the process of preparing an estimate for the same.When the Palike officials were questioned about the ‘so-called’ estimate, they denied it, claiming that the maintenance of the road was the BMRCL’s duty and the Palike will step in only in case of an emergency.This confusion once again bares testimony to the blame game played by the authorities. While the civic bodies pass the buck around, the commuters have no option but to bare the brunt silently.
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