Pramesh S Jain
*Minister inaugurates upgraded Tank Bund Road and R.T.Street with integrated utility ducts,pedestrian infrastructure and modern safety features.
*250 km of new white-topping roads worth Rs.3,000 crore to be launched in the next phase.
*Modern public toilets and integrated civic infrastructure to become the template for future road projects.
The first-ever Fire Hydrant system has been installed on a newly constructed white-topped road in Bengaluru, enabling firefighters to respond quickly and extinguish fires in the event of an emergency,said Greater Bengaluru Authority Minister Krishna Byre Gowda.
He was speaking to reporters after inaugurating the newly completed white-topped roads on Tank Bund Road and Rangaswamy Temple Road (R.T.Street) in the Gandhinagar Assembly constituency,within the Bengaluru Central City Corporation limits of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).
The Minister said that,under the B-SMILE initiative,the two important roads—Tank Bund Road and R.T.Street—in the Gandhinagar Assembly constituency have now been formally opened to the public.
To avoid repeated road cutting in the future,the project has integrated BWSSB water supply and underground sewerage infrastructure,comprehensive pedestrian footpaths,and a utility duct network simultaneously with the road development works.
He said that,in the first phase,a total of 196 km of white-topped roads have been completed across the city.
In the second phase,of the 120 km planned,60 km has already been completed,while the remaining 60 km will be finished by the end of December.
Under the third phase,another 250 km of white-topped roads will be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs.3,000 crore,with works scheduled to commence before December.
The Minister acknowledged that road construction may cause temporary inconvenience to the public.
However, once completed,white-topped roads have a service life of over 25 years,significantly reducing the government’s long-term maintenance costsHe added that projects on roads with heavy traffic may take slightly longer to complete,and officials have been instructed to expedite the works.
Referring to public toilets in the city,he said that several citizens’groups and organisations had conducted surveys and submitted reports classifying public toilets into those that are in good condition,those requiring repairs, and those in very poor condition.
Based on these findings,the government will improve the quality of public toilets across the city.New toilets will be constructed wherever required,while existing facilities needing repairs will be renovated.
Modern,user-friendly toilet designs will be introduced and replicated across other parts of Bengaluru.
The Minister also clarified that while some public toilets built on footpaths are being removed,others will be relocated only after suitable alternative facilities are provided.
Since public toilets remain an essential civic amenity,it is not feasible to remove all such facilities simultaneously.
*MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao:
Gandhinagar MLA and former Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that Gandhinagar and the Majestic area constitute one of the oldest parts of Bengaluru and that roads in the locality have been upgraded in a phased manner over several years.
Similar modern roads with integrated infrastructure will also be developed in other parts of the city.
He noted that the roads in the Gandhinagar Pete area are narrow,making it difficult for fire engines to access the locality during emergencies.
Keeping public safety in mind,the newly constructed white-topped roads have therefore been equipped with Fire Hydrant systems that enable immediate water supply for firefighting in the event of a fire.
He added that the white-topping works combine infrastructure development with modern technology to improve urban safety.
*Details of the Two Major Commercial Roads:
*1.Tank Bund Road (Upparpet Police Station to Shantala Junction).
The 418-metre-long Tank Bund Road,extending from Upparpet Police Station to Shantala Junction,has been developed at a cost of Rs.8.74 crore.The road features 10.5-metre-wide,180 mm thick white-topping.
The project also includes a 1,000 mm diameter storm-water drain,pedestrian-friendly footpaths,and integrated utility ducts for power and optical fibre cables (OFC) through underground chambers,significantly upgrading the road’s infrastructure.
*Innovative ‘eeze’ Precast Public Toilet:
The BSWML has also established an innovative ‘eeze’ public toilet complex on Tank Bund Road,a location that witnesses heavy commuter traffic due to its proximity to the Metro,KSRTC and BMTC transport hubs.
Constructed entirely using precast technology, from foundation to superstructure,the facility incorporates a unique Percolated concept to minimise odour.
It includes separate facilities for men,women, transgender persons,and persons with disabilities,along with ramp access to ensure universal accessibility.
*2.RT.Street (Srinivasa Mandira Road to Avenue Road).
The 645-metre-long R.T. Street,extending from Srinivasa Mandira Road to Avenue Road,has been developed at a cost of Rs.2.52 crore.
Located in a busy commercial area,the road features 3-metre-wide,150 mm thick white-topping.To enhance the streetscape,a buffer zone with grey and red zig-zag pavers has also been created.
*First Innovative Fire Hydrant System in Bengaluru:
The most significant feature of the R.T. Street project is the installation of an advanced Fire Hydrant network.
The historic Bengaluru _pete_ area is characterised by extremely narrow roads,which have often prevented fire engines from reaching accident sites quickly,resulting in extensive damage during fire incidents.
To address this challenge and ensure immediate emergency response,a dedicated fire hydrant system has been installed.
This is the first time such life-saving firefighting infrastructure has been incorporated into a road project in Bengaluru, making it a pioneering initiative.
Both roads have also been equipped with international-standard antique-finish LED streetlights and thermoplastic road markings, improving both commuter convenience and road safety.
Special Commissioner,Nitesh,Commissioner,Jagadish, Additional Commissioner,Venkata Chalapathi,Chief Engineer Vijay Kumar Haridas,Madesh,and other officials were present on the occasion.
