BBMP digs up new footpath to lay cables in Malleswaram

By Sanjay Murty | NT

Bengaluru: I nstances of lack of coordination between Bengaluru’s civic body and other service providers are not new. A recent example of the failure to plan ahead can be seen near Sankey Tank now.

The newly-laid footpath adjoining the Sankey Tank has been dug up to lay cables making life miserable for the pedestrians.

A resident of Malleswaram, who uses the footpath regularly, said proper planning could have saved energy and money.

In fact, this is not new to Malleswaram. A major portion of Sampige Road has been closed due to white-topping works. Citizens allege that almost all roads in the neighborhood have been dug up now. Malleswaram Social is the citizens’ group that initiated the ‘FootpathBeku’ campaign over three years ago. A member of the group said residents are now losing track of the stretches that are being dug up and not restored in time.

A BBMP assistant engineer told News Trail that it is being done to lay underground cables and that the road would be asphalted shortly. He clarified that cables are being laid under the footpath only in this case. “Usually these cables are laid under the roads, but here we decided not to dig this road as it might cause a safety hazard to commuters. The asphalting work will begin once the rains stop,” he said.

An official from the MLA’s office in Malleswaram said that the work is being carried out by the same contractor under the same project. “Cables for the streetlights are being laid underground by the same contractor who had previously developed the footpath. It does not include an additional grant,” he said.

When inquired about the cables being laid by telecom service providers, he said that it was part of a CSR initiative. “There are three ducts being made in this project. One duct will be used by the telecom service provider for its cable, while the other two are for the BBMP to utilize,” he said.

The workers and supervisor at the site said that the cables are for the telecom firm and that the footpath would be restored within a week.

Apparently, the citizens here have no choice but to wait and watch whether the footpath will be restored.