The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and its contractors, the BBMP Contractors’ Association has announced a cessation of all ongoing works starting July 8, citing unresolved issues and pending bills. This decision follows a critical meeting held three days after the association’s ultimatum.
Sources within the association confirmed that BBMP officials have assured the contractors of addressing all nine of their pressing demands. These assurances came after discussions with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and senior officials from the Urban Development Department, signaling high-level intervention to resolve the impasse. The situation reached a boiling point when an association representative communicated the decision to halt work through a letter dated July 3, addressed to the chief engineers across BBMP’s eight zones. The letter highlighted repeated yet unaddressed representations concerning various demands, notably the clearance of longstanding pending bills. Despite directives from both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister to fulfil the contractors’ demands, the BBMP’s Chief Commissioner had reportedly not taken the necessary steps, prompting the contractors to convene and decide on a work stoppage.
At the heart of the contractors’ grievances is the non-payment of bills stretching over a period of at least ten months, with the outstanding amount reportedly hovering around Rs 1,600 crore. The association has also raised concerns about the harassment faced by contractors from engineers during bill creation and work inspections, calling for a streamlined process involving a single agency for quality checks. Furthermore, the contractors are demanding the settlement of bills for works executed under the Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd, pending since 2021.
The contractors have formally submitted a detailed list of demands to the BBMP Chief Commissioner, encompassing the immediate clearance of pending bills and a halt to the alleged harassment. The civic body’s response in the coming days will be crucial in determining whether the standoff can be resolved without further disruption to the city’s infrastructure projects. This development underscores the chronic issues plaguing the civic administration in Bengaluru, highlighting the need for systemic reforms and efficient financial management to prevent such crises. The BBMP’s ability to swiftly and effectively address these demands will not only impact the contractors but also the broader urban development and public trust in the civic body’s functioning.
