BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) often turns a blind eye on the problems faced by its citizens. But the same civic body has beautified nearly 25 kilometres of roads just to ensure a ‘smooth ride’ for the visiting Prime Minister of Vietnam in only two days.Potholes, garbage and stagnation are issues meant to be borne only by the tax payers, but the Palike has gone out an arm and a limb to rectify the existing problems on the stretches that the visiting delegation would take. So serious was their work, that their preparations continued late into the evening on Tuesday.However, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike officials were quick to downplay their efforts and have stated otherwise.“We have used our existing funds for the cleaning up of these roads,” a Palike official said.Speaking with City Express on the condition of anonymity, he said that Rs 10 lakh which was given for filling up of the potholes was used by the Palike. Majority of the cleaning efforts were undertaken by the East zone, with a few stretches undertaken by the South zone of the Palike.“It was mostly the clearing of road side debris, garbage and removing water stagnation,” he informed.Even the recurring problem under the Domlur flyover was addressed to by the Palike but only temporarily.“We were initially planned to use hot mix to cover up the potholes, but due to time constraints, we had to use wet mixes,” he said.The Palike cleared all roads from Old Airport Road to Raj Bhavan and from Domlur Circle until Madivala flyover by working two days and one night. “We had garbage related issues near Murgesh Palya, Kodigehalli, Madivala Market area and below the Domlur flyover,” he said.Added to this all congratulatory messages and illegal hoardings and banners in these stretches were also diligently removed by the Palike.“It just pays to be the Prime Minister”, Jatinder Singh pipped.A frequent commuter on Old Airport Road, he said that complaints by citizens would not have the same impact as the government would do all it can to make the visitors ‘comfortable’.Adding to this, Gautam, a private bank employee said that the Trinity Circle pot hole and water stagnation caused huge traffic jams during peak hours. “I only hope that more delegates come to Bangalore as the BBMP seems to work harder to give the visitors a beautiful image of the city, and we could benefit in the process,” he joked.
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