Why White-Top A Road When A Flyover Is Planned? Minister Krishna Byre Gowda Raps B-SMILE Officials
By Political Bureau, Bangalore Mail
BENGALURU: In a stern reality check for the city’s civic authorities, Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Monday pulled up officials of Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) over unscientific infrastructure planning and the wastage of public funds.
Chairing a high-level review meeting to assess long-term solutions for Bengaluru’s traffic woes, the minister questioned the rationale behind white-topping the stretch between JC Road and NR Road when a flyover has already been sanctioned for the exact same route.
“Why have you white-topped this road when you already know that a flyover is scheduled to be constructed from JC Road to NR Road? Isn’t this an absolute waste of public tax money? Is this work being done just to clear bills?” Krishna Byre Gowda reportedly asked, leaving the B-SMILE officials speechless.
The minister warned the authorities that such disconnected, fragmented planning will not be tolerated in the future. He emphasized that the civic bodies must design and execute integrated, comprehensive blueprints for city development going forward.
High Cost of White-Topping vs. Asphalt
Addressing the media after the meeting, the minister clarified that white-topping is inherently a long-term, beneficial initiative meant to curb frequent road damage on heavily congested stretches.
“White-topping one kilometer of road costs approximately ₹10 crore. However, these concrete roads boast a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. Regular asphalted roads would have to be re-laid five to six times during this same period, which ends up costing much more in the long run. The objective is to give the city pothole-free, durable roads,” he explained.
However, he stressed that doing white-topping where a flyover foundation will eventually dig up the road defeats the entire scientific purpose of the project. He directed the officials to mount pressure on contractors to wrap up existing, legitimate white-topping projects swiftly, ensuring that pedestrian footpaths are built with equal structural quality.
Strict Warnings on Public Safety and Debris
Taking note of citizen grievances, Krishna Byre Gowda warned officials about negligence at construction sites. He noted that dumping jelly, stacking raw materials on roadsides, and leaving dug-up roads unattended are heavily exacerbating Bengaluru’s traffic congestion. He ordered immediate on-site inspections and immediate rectification of these safety lapses.
Major Infrastructure Updates: Tunnel Roads & Elevated Corridors
The minister also shared critical updates regarding multi-crore transit projects aimed at resolving Bengaluru’s traffic issues:
• Outer Ring Road (ORR) Redesign: A comprehensive ₹450 crore plan has been drafted to redesign the ORR. However, to avoid causing extreme distress to commuters alongside the ongoing Metro construction, the work will begin at an optimal time after thorough consultation with the traffic police.
• Tunnel Roads: The tender process for the 16.7 km North-South tunnel road has been completed and sent to the state cabinet for final approval. Meanwhile, tenders for the 22 km East-West tunnel corridor (from Old Madras Road to Mysore Road) will be floated in the next phase.
• Elevated Corridors: To provide a permanent cushion against gridlocks, the government aims to build 150 km of elevated corridors. Decisions have been finalized to float tenders for the first 75 km of this massive corridor network.
The minister concluded by stating that Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar has already laid out a comprehensive blueprint for these mega-projects. The current focus is strictly on efficient, time-bound, and flawless implementation rather than introducing new proposals.
