<p class="title">One of the damaged roads in Sarjapur is left unattended for more than a year now as a result of a tussle between the Public Works Department (PWD) and a contractor.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The road connecting Sarjapur and Ittangur in south-east Bengaluru is frequented by more than 1000 commuters every day. Now it is filled with nothing but mud and dust.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The PWD had started the repair work two years ago, but a rift between the PWD officials and a contractor has left the road unattended, say the residents. According to them, the commuters are facing the brunt.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The contractor of this road has been blacklisted by the PWD but is attending to the Sarjapur-Chandapura road work. He hasn’t started the work; it’s been 8 months,” says Deepanjali, a member of Voice of Sarjapur. </p>.<p class="bodytext">However, Yethiraj, assistant executive engineer, PWD, dismisses the allegation that there was a fight between PWD officials and the contractor. “The contractor just slowed down the work but has never stopped the work. There was a small misunderstanding that has been sorted out now. The contractor has started the road work and will complete it in a month,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A road connecting Dommasandra and Attibele via Sarjapur village in southeastern Bengaluru was widened a few months ago, but it has already worn out.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The road is full of potholes. There are no street lights, nor there is space on either side of the road for footpaths. No trees or stormwater drain either. There is no speed limit as it is a national highway and has no traffic signs. High-speed trucks are creating a dangerous situation for pedestrians and small vehicles,” says another member of Voice of Sarjapur.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Karnataka Road Development Corporation (KRDCL) is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the national highway, says Yethiraj. “PWD is yet to hand over the road development project to KRDCL. It is in the process. The PWD can’t invest in the repair work of the road as KRDCL is anyway going to do it. But we have made temporary repairs to ease traffic,” he adds. </p>
<p class="title">One of the damaged roads in Sarjapur is left unattended for more than a year now as a result of a tussle between the Public Works Department (PWD) and a contractor.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The road connecting Sarjapur and Ittangur in south-east Bengaluru is frequented by more than 1000 commuters every day. Now it is filled with nothing but mud and dust.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The PWD had started the repair work two years ago, but a rift between the PWD officials and a contractor has left the road unattended, say the residents. According to them, the commuters are facing the brunt.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The contractor of this road has been blacklisted by the PWD but is attending to the Sarjapur-Chandapura road work. He hasn’t started the work; it’s been 8 months,” says Deepanjali, a member of Voice of Sarjapur. </p>.<p class="bodytext">However, Yethiraj, assistant executive engineer, PWD, dismisses the allegation that there was a fight between PWD officials and the contractor. “The contractor just slowed down the work but has never stopped the work. There was a small misunderstanding that has been sorted out now. The contractor has started the road work and will complete it in a month,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A road connecting Dommasandra and Attibele via Sarjapur village in southeastern Bengaluru was widened a few months ago, but it has already worn out.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The road is full of potholes. There are no street lights, nor there is space on either side of the road for footpaths. No trees or stormwater drain either. There is no speed limit as it is a national highway and has no traffic signs. High-speed trucks are creating a dangerous situation for pedestrians and small vehicles,” says another member of Voice of Sarjapur.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Karnataka Road Development Corporation (KRDCL) is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the national highway, says Yethiraj. “PWD is yet to hand over the road development project to KRDCL. It is in the process. The PWD can’t invest in the repair work of the road as KRDCL is anyway going to do it. But we have made temporary repairs to ease traffic,” he adds. </p>