BENGALURU: The high court on Thursday directed the American Road Technology Solutions, which operates Python equipment, to immediately start fixing potholes on major roads of Bengaluru.
A division bench headed by chief justice Ritu Raj Awasthi reiterated that it’s main concern is that city roads should be in proper condition. It directed the BBMP chief commissioner to reconsider the rate at which payment for repair of potholes by Python machine is to be made, taking into consideration among other things the schedule of rates prescribing the pothole repair machine rate at Rs 1,249 per hour.
“The decision of the chief commissioner, BBMP, shall be placed before the court by the next date of hearing. The report regarding progress of the work shall also be placed before the court on the next date. In the meantime, in case the respondent (American Road Technology Solutions) makes a request for payment of any advance to start the work, the same shall be considered by BBMP and appropriate action taken,” the bench further observed while directing that the matter be listed again on May 31, 2022.
Earlier, the Palike submitted that in compliance with the court order dated April 19, 2022, a provisional work order dated April 20 has been issued along with a letter of acceptance to American Road Technology Solutions. The court was also told that the provisional work order pertains to 182km of major roads and ward roads of west zone in Bengaluru.
However, counsel for American Road Technology Solutions submitted that the government has prescribed a rate for pothole repair machine at Rs 1,249 per hour and the company is ready to immediately start work at that. The company claimed that BBMP has offered a rate which is far below than that prescribed by the government for PWD vis-a-vis Python machines.
V Sreenidhi, counsel for BBMP, submitted that the Rs 1,249 rate pertains to hiring of Python machines for emergency purposes and is not a scheduled rate. He further argued that in the case on hand, BBMP is offering a contract to American Road Technology Solutions in terms of a package.
The court is hearing a PIL filed in 2015 by Vijayan Menon and others. They have sought for a series of directions, including a direction to BBMP for submitting an action-taken report on repairing killer potholes.
