Date:09/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/09/stories/2005120919900400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

BMP finds VSNL guilty of road cutting

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) authorities detected illegal road cutting taken up by a private company on the Race Course Road and seized a Maruti van and material used to lay underground cables.

According to a press release, BMP Commissioner K. Jothiramalingam, and a team of top officials, who were on an inspection of pothole-filling work on Wednesday, noticed that workers deployed by Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (VSNL) were cutting the Race Course Road without any valid permission from the BMP. "When questioned, the workers confirmed they had been deployed by VSNL to cut the road and lay cables. But after verification it was realised that the company had not sought any permission from the BMP. So, the Commissioner immediately stopped the work and ordered seizure of material," the release said.

Recently, the BMP had slapped a fine of Rs. 25,000 on the same company for taking up illegal road cutting in some other area. The Commissioner and his team will take up more inspections at night to check illegal road cutting.