What hundreds of deaths every year could not do to get the the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike(BBMP) going on the potholes, the news of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Bengaluru has managed to, at least for the select roads the VVIP will take.
Despite the rain, the BBMP is on a major potholes filling drive so that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Merkel can have a smooth ride on the roads. Merkel arrives on Monday and PM Modi joins her on Tuesday.
Bangalore Mirror reported that the BBMP commissioner G Kumar Naik personally monitored the pothole-filling drive along with his team of engineers that initially assembled near Esteem Mall.
The officials went on an inspection drive on routes where the VIP cavalcade would pass.
BBMP made sure that its workers stayed up till late evening covering potholes and cleaning walls.
The New Indian Express reported that, on Sunday, Old Airport Road was being repaired and posters on the walls were being removed. The area around Leela Palace hotel and a stretch of Hosur Road were also being cleaned. Modi and Merkel will attend a NASSCOM event at the hotel on Tuesday.
TNIE quoted the BBMP Commissioner G Kumar Naik saying, “We are carrying out work on a fast pace despite the rain. Roads are being repaired and at the same time, we are removing posters from walls as they have popped up in all places of late.”
“In a day or two, the mayor will release a list of routes which will get a makeover ahead of the Dasara festival. Currently, we are focusing on routes which the VVIPs will take, but the work will continue as during Dasara, the city witnesses a surge in tourists and we don’t want them to have a negative image of the city,” added Naik.
The elevated road from the airport to the Hebbal flyover is maintained by the National Highways.
The inspecting team further reviewed the road connecting the Old Airport Road and Bosch Factory in Adugodi (via Shoolay circle), where both Merkel and Modi are expected to participate in a function.
BM reported that Modi and Merkel will participate in various engagements in the city on Tuesday. The prime minister will arrive at 9AM in Bengaluru.
Both Modi and Merkel will participate in the Indo-German Summit `Digitizing Tomorrow', organized by Fraunhofer, India and Nasscom at Hotel Leela Palace between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm.
The German chancellor will leave for Germany on Tuesday afternoon while Modi will leave for New Delhi on the same day.