Since September 2018, the 9th Main-14th Cross was inaccessible to commuters. Thanks to rains and stormwater drains getting blocked and flooding homes in low-lying areas, this was BBMP’s way of desilting the drains. However, the works hit a road hump when the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) took its own time to do its bit after the BBMP had done its desilting.
In fact, the box drain could not be closed until the KPTCL shifted their cables going underneath the 9th Main Road. “We cannot touch the cables; they have to switch off the power going through these lines and work on holidays,” one BBMP official had said. “Once they shift the cables from the centre of the drain, we can cover the gaping hole quickly.”
Sounded easy peesy, but the KPTCL said this would mean shutting off half the city’s power supply on a Sunday to get the job done, which was a logistical nightmare. This led to some more delay. When the BBMP officials reminded them again, the KPTCL people who had promised were posted elsewhere. The wait continued. Finally, this week, the job was done and the road is ready for primetime traffic near Empire restaurant in Sector 6. It is only a matter of time before the barricades go and the traffic movement is allowed. The stretch doesn’t appear to be super smooth just yet, but eventually will, we hope.
