Several arterial roads in Bengaluru getting makeover ahead of PM’s visit

BENGALURU: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to visit Bengaluru on November 11 to inaugurate the second terminal of the Kempegowda International airport, unveil the Kempegowda statue and flag off South India’s first Vande Bharat train, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike  (BBMP) is now working overtime along with the police department to fix the city’s roads and get rid of garbage.

Debris being cleared in Majestice area on Monday.

The civic body had come in for a lot of flak earlier for shoddy road work which was exposed just days after the PM’s previous visit to the city.

The traffic police are also clearing footpaths of hawkers and vendors, who say they are ready to maintain cleanliness during the PM’s visit. No pushcarts are being allowed at the Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Bengaluru City Railway Station and the place is being cleaned and spruced up.

Pushcar vendors are being asked to move elsewhere.

“Our boss is coming, so we are ready to make some adjustments. When we have voted for him, we can do this much”, said a street food vendor near the city railway station.

“We have taken up intensive cleaning over the last month. Debris is being cleared from the roadsides and the roads will also be asphalted. This is not related to the PM’s visit. We have taken up the work across Gandhinagar”, maintained Venkatesh, a BBMP official.

Debris and junk being cleared from the roads in Majestic area.

The Prime Minister will attend two events in the city and three events at the Kempegowda International Airport. All roads where the PM will be traversing are being spruced up.

Repair work is being taken up on MG Road and Old Airport Road too.

The Old Airport Road, around the city railway station, the Gubbi Thotadappa Choultry Road, Anand Rao Circle, Race Course Road, KK Road and Ballari Road are getting a makeover.

It may be recalled that after the PM’s previous visit to the city, roads that had been relaid nera Kommaghatta had started to come off barely two days later. The PMO had even sought a report from the state on the quality of road work undertaken.