Bengaluru: Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda Wednesday questioned officials on why road works between Dommasandra and Varthur were held up over land acquisition when space was already available for immediate improvements.Inspecting the Sarjapur Road-Dommasandra-Gunjur-Varthur-Balagere corridor, Gowda directed Karnataka Road Development Corporation (KRDCL) officials to use available land to clear debris, lay gravel and make the road motorable instead of waiting for land acquisition.He also questioned the need for land acquisition for the road over Varthur lake bund when officials said considerable space was already available for road development.Gowda also pulled up officials over encroachments along the Gunjur-Dommasandra stretch, where several establishments had allegedly occupied more than eight feet of roadside space. He questioned why officials had allowed the encroachments despite the junctions already facing traffic congestion.“What were the officials doing while these encroachments were taking place? Even after the encroachments have contributed to the worsening traffic situation, why has action not been taken? How much longer should ordinary citizens suffer because of these delays?” he asked.He directed officials to clear encroachments on govt land in accordance with the law and identify space required for road development.Gowda also directed officials to immediately repair potholes, damaged stretches and roadside pits, remove debris and silt, and use gravel wherever necessary to make roads motorable. He asked officials to address waterlogging and drainage issues and relocate Bescom transformers and poles obstructing roads and traffic.The minister also directed departments to coordinate road works with future Metro and elevated-road projects to avoid repeated excavation and disruption.
