[Bengaluru potholes] Let repair of major roads commence, reconsider rate paid to agency: Karnataka High Court to BBMP

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed American Road Technology and Solutions to commence the work of repairing potholes on 182 km of major roads in Bengaluru on the basis of a provisional work order issued by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) [Vijayan Menon v. Secretary and Anr]..The Division Bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice SR Krishna Kumar said that this issue of ensuring proper roads in Bengaluru is in public interest, and that it wanted the work to start immediately. .However, the Court was told that there was a problem with the rate which the civic body was willing to pay to the agency contracted to fix the potholes.Counsel for the agency, Senior Advocate Jayna Kothari, submitted that it was willing to begin the work in accordance with the rate prescribed by the Public Works Department. However, the BBMP was offering a rate below the scheduled rate prescribed for the work of repair by the pothole repair machine. Counsel for BBMP, Advocate Shreenidhi, submitted that the rate of ₹1,249 per hour was too high and was meant only for the emergency purposes. "They will not start the work unless you finalize the rate. How can we ask them to start the work without getting any money? If that is the rate fixed by the government, you have to pay it. You have sufficient staff to verify how much the machine has been used," the Court said to BBMP..The Court directed that the agency immediately begin the work of repair of major roads. Further, the Chief Commissioner of BBMP was directed to reconsider the rate of payment for repair of potholes by the Python machine. He was asked to take into consideration the schedule of rates fixed by the Government of Karnataka for the Public Works Department..The matter will be heard next on May 31..During previous hearings, the Court had come down heavily on the BBMP, directing its Chief Engineer to be present before it, and had expressed its distress at the terrible condition of roads in the city..Earlier this week, the BBMP was directed to issue a work order to the agency tasked with repairing the potholes within 36 hours..[Bengaluru potholes] How many people will you pass the buck to? Karnataka High Court directs BBMP to issue work order in 36 hours