Repeated road work flaws spark public outrage

Raichur

In a recurring case of negligence, KRIDL officials have repeated their past mistakes in the construction of a Cement Concrete (CC) road near the Tungabhadra Left Bank canal in Ganganagar, much to the disappointment of local residents. The project, funded under the SCP/TSP scheme for 2021–22, involved building a 2-km CC road beside the 40th sub-canal, with ₹3 crore sanctioned—₹2 crore for roadwork and ₹1 crore for drainage.

On November 24, 2023, KRIDL Chief Engineer Rajanna conducted a surprise visit to Sindhanur after learning that asphalt was being laid over the CC road. Shocked by the method used, he noted that the asphalt had been applied unscientifically, and the work lacked quality and planning. His team's report suggested misappropriation of funds through fraudulent means.

Assistant Engineer Anil Kumar K Gokhale, who oversaw the project, remarked, “We need to address the encroachment issue before we can continue with the construction of the remaining section of the road.” He added that the KRIDL team was instructed to meet high standards going forward.

Following the inspection report, Gokhale was suspended. However, local resident Mallikarjun Dinni alleged that political pressure led to his reinstatement within months. Dinni further claimed that ₹1 crore from the remaining funds was misused to cover up earlier flaws by laying fresh cement concrete over the improperly asphalted road.

The issue has sparked public outrage, with residents demanding transparency and stricter accountability in infrastructure development.