Is the govt doing anything?

Is the govt doing anything?
The Times of India

Even as Deve Gowda chose to push the onus on Narayana Murthy to find a solution to Bangalore’s traffic woes, the question arises whether the government itself has done anything. Here is what various departments are doing:

Urban development: Has overall charge of Bangalore Metro Rail project, which is expected to ease traffic in Bangalore; Metro has cleared the acid test of the central public investment board, but is still due to get nod from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. At this point, Gowda has again raised doubts about the Metro’s economic feasibility.

Public Works: Eight-lane peripheral road planned, but funds not tied up. The state has asked the Centre to take up 50:50 share in upgradation of 38 “IT’’ roads.

Transport: Following a suggestion from Murthy, truck traffic was banned on Hosur Road, Bannerghatta Road and the Outer Ring Road stretch from Sarjapur Road to Bannerghatta Road, during peak hours.

BCC: Under IT pressure, road improvement has been taken up on 19 major roads, through new designs and relaying, prevention of water logging and new footpaths. Core inner ring road planned to decongest business district, but no progress yet.

Traffic police: Feasibility study is on for signal synchronisation and traffic management through cameras and sensors which automatically ensure that traffic is diverted onto alternate roads.

BMTC: Another IT-suggested initiative, they are moving bus stands from junctions to prevent congestion. Drivers are being trained in batches and told not to stop in the middle of the traffic. BDA: Expect to finish Jayadeva and Airport Road flyover before deadlines of July and August, 2006 and at Anand Rao Circle by December. Three underpasses — Ramamurthynagar, Magadi and West of Chord Road are being planned.

GOWDA’S ACHIEVEMENTS
Anti-IT? No way
Deve Gowda has maintained that he and his party are not anti-IT and indicated the following initiatives he took during his tenure as PM and Karnataka’s CM to promote the sector
First IT project was cleared (Singapore Technology Park in Whitefield) during my tenure as CM.
Major tax concessions (10-year tax holiday) to IT sector was provided when I was PM.
Amendment to Land Revenue Act (Section 109) was brought when I was CM to help development of industries. This enabled purchase of agriculture land for industrial activities. But the Congress was against this.
IT has brought name and fame to Karnataka apart from creating additional revenue to foreign exchange reserves.
Achievement of signing final concessions agreement along with other vital decisions for Bangalore international airport was done by my party ministers P G R Sindhia and Siddaramaiah.