Fall in four months: Service road near Kundalahalli underpass of Bengaluru caves-in
Bengaluru: Barely four months after inauguration, the service road near Kundalahalli underpass caved in, giving rise to fresh charges of corruption in the Karnataka state government, especially the ‘40 per cent’ charge.
The road had been built as a part of a Rs 19.5-crore project in Bengaluru. It is also a part of the Signal Free Corridor project of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
An executive engineer, who was working in the Signal Free Corridor project, has said that a pipe under the road broke. “The water had been seeping over the last few days, loosening the soil and resulting in the cave-in,” he added, said NDTV.
The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), which handles the water supply facilities, is reported to have repaired the pipeline.
The BBMP, however, has said that the repair of the stretch that caved in would require a few more days. The officials also said that the contractor would have to do it sans charges since the underpass is covered under the Annual Maintenance and Defect Liability clause.
The Congress, meanwhile, has called the incident of cave-in as another example the government’s ‘40 per cent’ administration and corruption. The government, in turn, has called such charges political vendetta that is baseless.
Congress leader and MLC Nagaraj Yadav has also asked the contractors’ associations to prove their dedication to provide quality work. “They will merely reply that the low quality in work is due to corruption,” he said.
The association members, however, are yet to respond to Yadav, who has demanded that a criminal case be filed against the concerned contractors as well as government officials.
The MLC also called this an instance that substantiates the Congress demand for a diligent minister for Bengaluru. “Although Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai himself is in charge of Bengaluru, he has failed to fulfill his duties and responsibilities,” said Yadav.
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
