BANGALORE: Once again, the delay in Tagore circle underpass construction leaves commuters wondering if the officials will ever be able to meet the deadline. “The underpass will be inaugurated by March 15,” these were the very words of S Anil Kumar, V V Puram corporator, two months back. However, when City Express contacted the Corporator again to do a reality check on the progress of the project, he did a u-turn from his earlier stand and said, “I have just said that the underpass will be open to public on March 30 and we are committed to it. I have been to the spot, met the Assistant Executive Engineer and have also discussed with the local resident’s association on its progress.”A visit to the Tagore circle underpass makes it quite evident that the inauguration of the underpass on March 15 is next to impossible. Pavements are still awaiting to be restored, concrete roads are to be laid, however, the workers have started laying the pebbles and stones for it. One of the workers said, “It will take at least 20 more days to complete the asphalting of the road for vehicles to use this road.” On his part, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Engineer Soma Shekar said, “A vast portion of the work is being completed and we are almost nearing towards completion of the project. By March end, it should be open for public. However, a few finishing works will still remain even after the underpass is open, but we can do these cosmetic works simultaneously.”When City Express contacted Deputy Mayor, S Harish, he said, “When I spoke to the concerned engineers, they informed me that as of now, the underpass is partially open for public but by March end, the underpass will be opened entirely for the public.”At present, the total cost of the underpass stands at Rs 1951 lakhs, according to the figures given by Executive Engineer, Vijaykumar. Amidst a public protest in 2008, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike gave the underpass project to PMJ Constructions and Simplex Private Limited in July 2008. The company was given a deadline of almost a year, but it seems as if even this project, like any other BBMP project, will take some more time for the usage of hapless citizens.
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