As D K Shivakumar’s promise to solve Bengaluru tech corridor’s issues in 100 days falls flat, IT firms seek ‘urgent attention’
The Outer Ring Road Companies Association, which represents the IT companies on the ORR stretch between Silk Board Junction and KR Puram, has flagged the civic infrastructure crisis in the area.
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Ten months since Shivakumar’s big promise, Bengaluru’s tech corridor along ORR is still plagued with infrastructure woes. (File photo)“All the officials…have given a commitment to solve and reduce the problems of the IT corridor in another 100 days.” This was the assurance given by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to the people staying and working along Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) stretch between Silk Board Junction and KR Puram on October 7 last year.
Ten months since Shivakumar’s big promise, Bengaluru’s tech corridor along ORR is still plagued with infrastructure woes.
The inaction has now prompted the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA), which represents the IT companies along the 17 km ORR stretch to knock on the doors of the civic authorities, demanding “urgent attention” and appealing for a “collaborative effort” to address the civic infrastructure crisis in the area.
The 17 km stretch between Silk Board Junction and KR Puram is home to nearly 10 lakh IT employees and over 25 tech parks, and coughs up nearly 35 per cent of the tax revenue for corporations. But over the last 20 years, the authorities – the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), and the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) – have failed the residents here.
“We urge all relevant authorities to prioritise infrastructure maintenance and upgradation works, including road repairs, pothole filling, water logging solutions, footpath and service road upkeep, and stormwater drain clearance. We need to transform ORR into a safer, smoother tech corridor for employees, the public and businesses,” the association said in a statement.
In the statement, ORRCA has highlighted that works to upgrade 22 arterial roads, including the road connecting Panathur Road from Kadubeesanahalli, are overdue. A traffic management plan to mitigate congestion from Rainbow Bridge to the ORR main carriageway is also pending.
The association has also called for attention to address the pothole menace dotting the ORR, with a focus on Iblur, Bellandur, and KB Halli service roads, Marathahalli, Mahadevapura service road, Agara flyover, and KB Halli underpass.
On October 7 last year, BBMP chief commissioner Tushar Girinath had emphasised that the civic authority would focus on fixing potholes, clearing footpath encroachments, and improving service roads but to no avail.
The association also highlighted the works overdue in mitigating waterlogging points on HSR service road, Bellandur Lake Road, Marathahalli service road and underpass, Panathur railway bridge, and Mahadevapura flyover service road.
Further, ORRCA also said that works are overdue on footpath and service road upgradation and flyover micro-surfacing, which had a July 31 deadline.
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