IT-BT companies express displeasure over govt not resolving issues within 100 days

BENGALURU: The IT-BT companies association, or ORRCA, has again raised its voice against the government and expressed displeasure for not addressing issues related to the on Outer Ring Road (ORR). The IT-BT companies have now pointed out that despite the 100-day deadline given to officials to solve the problems, minimal work has been done.

On October 7 last year, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar held talks with the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA). There are 500 firms and 10 lakh people working on the 17-kilometre stretch of the Outer Ring Road around Bellandur.

The stretch of the ORR faces several issues including high-density corridors, garbage and sewage management, sewage treatment and recycling, Cauvery water supply, Metro connectivity expansion, monorail, road widening and improvement of footpaths, including elevated roads, which were raised during the meetings with the Deputy CM and the BBMP chief commissioner.

Following the complaints, Shivakumar had set a deadline for the BBMP chief commissioner and Zonal Commissioner to sort out all the problems within 100 days, but none of the issues seem to have been solved. The ORRCA recentl wrote a letter to DCM and expressed that they were not happy with the BBMP response.

In a letter, ORRCA pointed out that despite all efforts from the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA), the 100-day deadline has not been met. “While some efforts have been initiated, minimal progress has been made, major concerns persist, and residents and businesses along the Outer Ring Road continue to face infrastructure challenges”, the association pointed out.

With IT companies witnessing a return of employees to office while Metro works picks up pace, it is resulting in further narrowing of service roads and main roads, traffic delays and congestions are expected to increase on ORR, the letter pointed out.

“We urgently seek your intervention to address the pressing need for service road improvement, pothole repairs, footpath encroachment removal, and enhancements to ensure continuity. flyover asphalting, and a comprehensive action plan for the six focus areas, including the 22 Arterial Road Network, infrastructure facilities, including providing service roads, potholes, footpaths, and busstops; implementing restrictions on illegal parking, encroachment, and heavy transport vehicles; traffic management and enhanced surviallance; ORR Metro and first/last mile connectivity; and continued investment in public transport and shared mobility solutions”, ORRCA said.

“ORRCA is fully committed to providing support to realize your vision. We look forward to your ORR visit in January as promised and look forward to providing you with a detailed progress report, discussing pending activities, and seeking your guidance to complete the below six areas of focus,” the letter further said.