All play and no work makes the Karnataka Government a disaster

ALL PLAY AND NO WORK?
One year is ample time for a coalition government to make an impression. The first indication of governance would be in the initiation or continuance of policies on infrastructure. What is the Congress-JD(S) government’s track record?
The Times of India

Bangalore: Karnataka has always been slammed for inadequate infrastructure by investors and residents alike. Government after government has sprouted projects, plans and policies. But at the ground level, there is finally little work done.

A full year after taking charge, the Dharam Singh government has seen progress only on two major infrastructure projects — in fits and starts. We take stock of the efforts.

Bangalore International Airport: Propelled by pressure from the IT sector, the Congress-JD(S) government has moved sluggishly forward on the airport at Devanahalli, already delayed by 12 years. The plus side: Enabling works to begin construction is on, the concessions, state support, land lease and air traffic (CNSATM) agreements which bogged down the project for over two years have been signed.

But infrastructure minister P.G.R. Sindhia’s ambitious deadline of starting construction within 100 days of coming to power has not been met. Award of a letter marking financial closure is still awaited to begin construction. Minor Airports: Some action is visible with clearances coming through for upgradation of Mysore, Mangalore and Hubli airports.

Bangalore Metro: The plan has inched forward and is awaiting clearance from the Centre’s cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) and Projects Investment Board (PIB). The planning commission has already cleared the project. As a state official put it, “This is despite the state government, not because of it.’’

BMIC: The Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) has become a battleground between coalition partners Congress and JD(S). Court proceedings and stays have put a question mark on the Rs 2,500-crore project. Promoters NICE are still confident of executing it, but the coalition has taken a U turn on supporting it.

Highway: The alternative project of four-laning the existing Bangalore-Mysore state highway has not met the expected deadline of June. It is now expected to be completed by October, two months ahead of its scheduled date.

Peripheral roads: The coalition government floated a new project to upgrade 28 roads (362 km) around Bangalore to decongest traffic. A Rs 430-crore detailed proposal along with the traffic study and prioritisation of road work has been sent to the Centre, seeking funding.

Elevated highway: The Rs 450-crore public-private ‘infoway’ on stilts — a nine-km elevated flyover from Central Silk Board to Electronic City — has been stayed and referred to a committee of experts from IISC by the Karnataka High Court. A ray of hope is an informal plan discussed by Electronics City Association and NICE to sort out the issue.

Rail projects: After months of inaction, chief minister N. Dharam Singh submitted a memorandum to Union railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on April 28, urging him to take up the joint venture rail projects with Karnataka.

The four projects under K-RIDE are Hassan-Mangalore and Sholapur-Gadag gauge conversions, Guntakal-Hospet doubling and Hubli-Ankola new line.