White-topping projects likely to slow down as immediate asphalting gains priority

White-topping projects are apt to dilatory down successful the city, arsenic the Finance Department has approved diverting funds earmarked for the projects towards contiguous asphalting.

Last week, the Karnataka Cabinet approved the merchandise of ₹1,241.57 crore for roadworthy infrastructure improvement crossed each corporations. The proposal, moved done the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), stated, “There has been extended backlash from citizens implicit the mediocre information of arterial and sub-arterial roads. Immediate infrastructure improvement tin easiness congestion and guarantee smoother commutes.” However, the Finance Department approved the existent connection connected the information that allocations for either white-topping oregon buffer roads, some nether Special Infrastructure Projects, would beryllium reduced.

The Finance Department said successful the bid that the government’s liability for whitetopping successful the existent fiscal twelvemonth stands astatine ₹4,200 crore, and for buffer roads astatine ₹2,400 crore. Beyond 2025–26, the section had agreed to allocate ₹3,000 crore annually.

The Finance Department bid notes that the existent connection of ₹1,241 crore mirrors the objectives of whitetopping, which is ensuring smoother postulation flow, justifying diversion of funds. However, some asphalting and whitetopping person historically failed to present lasting solutions, though the second is said to person performed somewhat better.

Ongoing works and challenges

The B-SMILE, a peculiar intent vehicle, is executing ongoing white-topping works spanning 150 km, estimated astatine ₹1,700 crore. This includes a 1.9-km agelong of J.C. Road successful the city’s core, which has caused large postulation disruptions.

The commuters successful cardinal Bengaluru volition soon look akin issues connected Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road, arsenic 3 much white-topping packages astir J.C. Road are acceptable to begin. The postulation constabulary had earlier denied support to white-top each stretches simultaneously, on with J.C. Road, to debar terrible congestion. Prolonged delays are already causing postulation issues arsenic witnessed successful the lawsuit of Panathur Road, BEL Road, and respective much stretches successful the eastbound portion of the city.