A day after a private school bus carrying children partially fell into a roadside drain on Balagere-Panathur road, East City Commissioner D.S. Ramesh inspected the site on Saturday and ordered officials to speed up civic works in the area.
The commissioner emphasized the urgency of completing the 18-metre road widening project, which has faced delays due to land acquisition hurdles. He directed engineers to fast-track the process using Transferable Development Rights (TDR) and ensure the project progresses without further setbacks. At the accident spot, he noted that compound walls had already been demolished, marking the beginning of the widening work.
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Road works to be completed within a month
Joint Commissioner Dakshayini, who joined the inspection, confirmed that adjoining roads, including Vibgyor Road, were also reviewed. She said several parallel projects, such as stormwater drain construction and property demolition for road expansion, were underway but slowed by continuous rainfall. “If the weather remains favorable, our engineers estimate the works can be completed within a month,” she added.
Ramesh also sought support from traffic police to regulate or divert vehicles on the busy stretch, enabling timely execution of the projects. During the visit, he flagged concerns over clogged stormwater drains that contribute to frequent waterlogging. He instructed civic staff to clear encroachments and desilt rajakaluves to restore smooth flow of rainwater into Varthur Lake.
The commissioner stressed that completing these works promptly is essential for both traffic safety and flood prevention in the area.