New Chief Engineer promises ‘Zero Pothole Policy’ for Bengaluru
BENGALURU:
Potholes are the biggest headache for every Bengalurean and this engineer promises that he will deliver, rainy season or not, on the vision of Chief Secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar for pothole-free roads.
Meet 48-year-old Bengalurean BS Prahallad, BBMP’s new Chief Engineer who will be heading the Road Infrastructure wing which looks after 2,000 km of major roads in the city.
On Saturday, Prahallad took over from Chief Engineer S Somashekhar who retired after 39 years of service. Speaking to theBengalurulive, he said that as a Bengalurean he was acutely aware of the problems faced by city motorists.
Prahallad, who has a master’s degree in Highway Technology and is also pursuing PhD in super pave asphalt mixes, said, “I am aware of the requirements of Bengaluru’s roads I have worked with Chief Secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar when he was administrator of the BBMP, when he had given priority for pothole-free roads. I have decided to follow his example and will not let down my bosses.”
On Sunday, Prahallad along with other civic engineers visited the Batch Mix Type Asphalt plant of BBMP and directed the contractor to start work immediately as the rainy season is at hand. “Making the city’s major roads motorable is my priority and I have directed the contractor to be ready with the asphalt mix for pothole filling as and when required in any locality,” he said.
Prahallad has to his credit the planning and construction of additional link roads to Kempegowda International Airport during 2007-08, and the widening of SRS Road and the Basaveshwara Nagar bus terminus road. Preparation of Road History, Road Inventory and Road Condition Indexing are top priority for him.
Milling and relaying of roads
Prahallad said, “Engineers are always criticised for bad roads but I remember the Chief Secretary had instructed milling and relaying of roads when he was civic administrator and hence I have decided to follow his lead.
“I didn’t get much opportunity to work in the Road Infrastruture wing. For a few months I was holding the in-charge chief engineer’s post but my previous boss (former BBMP Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad) asked me to look after the city’s storm water drains which were always in the news for overflowing. That was prevented this year after a yearly maintenance system was adopted by the civic agency. Now, the current Commissioner has shown faith in me and I have been asked to give a new shape to the city’s roads.”
Prahallad said the Chief Secretary himself hails from Bengaluru and has concrete ideas for changing the city’s road infrastructure. “All his ideas will be adopted and all directions issued by him duirng the inter-department coordination meetings will be implemented. It’s high time to give a proper shape to our road infrastructre to increase Bengaluru’s global ranking,” he signed off.
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