'I would like world class roads’

I would like world class roads’
By Kavitha Kushalappa
‘There is need to take a look at the provisions of the Transparency Act again’
Deccan Herald

He heads the administration of a city that evokes images of the Silicon Valley. Yet the city is quintessentially Indian. It oscillates between extremes of pride and self-pity, with metronomical regularity. It loses no chance to flaunt its halo of being a prominent knowledge hub in the globalised world. At the slightest excuse, it starts wallowing in the civic mess as its denizens crib about how life in the city has become an urban nightmare.

In fact, Bangalore is as contradictory as its residents. Knowledgeable Bangaloreans never make bones about the fact that they litter and clog stormwater drains, even as they demand an end to the waterlogging. They cruise to and from from their work-places in private vehicles and yet demand congestion-free roads.

What are the challenges he faces? Mr K Jothiramalingam, Commissioner Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, pauses, and replies: “It’s very difficult to answer.”

Jothiramalingam, who has been on the job since July 2, 2004, says if he’s given the powers he would like to rid the city of ‘chota-mota contractors’.

Excerpts from an interview:

The government plans to merge the seven city municipal councils around Bangalore with the BMP; what administrative challenges will arise when that happens?

There is no level playing field. The development in the BMP and CMC areas are not on the same level. Bringing infrastructure and other facilities on par with the BMP will be the single biggest challenge.

What are the pros and cons for Bangalore in the proposed merger?

That depends upon the proportion and quantum of funds and investments made on upgrading the infrastructure in CMC areas.

The advantage: There will be a single administrative body responsible and answerable for civic amenities like roads, water supply and garbage cleaning.

The disadvantages: The geographical area will be very large — larger than Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata. Beisdes, the people in CMCs may have to shell out more towards the user fee and property tax. In economic terms there are no free lunches, you have to pay for the facilities you get.

In terms of property tax rates and a tax collection mechanism what changes do you forsee once the CMCs merge with the BMP?

Property tax will be related to the facilities you want and the standards you want. The tax collection mechanism won’t be a problem, the self-assessment scheme based on the Capital Value Scheme can be applied to all areas.

Most firms of the new economy sector are located in CMC limits but will Bangalore proper lose out on the attention it receives from the authorities once the merger happens?

It is only natural that more attention should be given to CMC areas. It is possible to pay more attention to the CMCs without neglecting the BMP area. But this special care will not be at the cost of neglecting a BMP area.

What are the constraints before the BMP when it comes to issues like road maintenance and garbage clearance? How can they be overcome?

We should hasten the decision-making process.

Also, there is scope for it. Within the system — like following the rules of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act many a time we end up with less competent implementation agencies that are based on the lowest quotation.

In selecting agencies, I think there is need to take another look at the provisions of the Transparency Act. Within the framework of system and procedure, I have to admit that we have constraints which are inevitable in a number of cases. List some of the ongoing programmes of BMP that you believe will impact the city in a positive way.

The re-modelling of stormwater drains in four valleys: Koramangala, Challaghatta, Vrishabhavathi and Hebbal. The total cost of the four-valleys project is about Rs 450 crore. With escalation and additions it may go up. Or we can take up works up to Rs 600 crore.

The Inner Core Ring Road to ease traffic congestion in the central business district: Its detailed project report has been prepared; the cost is pegged at Rs 236 crore. The tender process will start soon.

A scientific landfill site is being readied at Mavallipura and the Waste-to-Energy project is being readied at Mandur. The Mavallipura plant can take care of 600 tonnes of waste per day. The Mandur plant will take care of 1,000 tonnes per day.

Your biggest challenge as city commissioner?

Getting work done by taking along all elected members and ensuring that basic obligatory functions of a municipal body are attended to... They include the maintenance of cleanliness, garbage collection and provision of motorable roads.

There’s been a challenge in the delivery of quality service to people within a reasonable time.

The citizen should not run from pillar to post for service.

He should get such service without any interface with the official. The BMP’s Citizen Service Centres are meant to ensure such a system.

Which cities in the world do you admire?

Chicago and Washington. Not only do they have good roads they also have a very good metro system which takes a large number of commuters ... congestion eases to a large extent.

Personally, is there anything that you would like to do for Bangalore, but cannot?

I want to call three or four big international companies and entrust road works entirely to them so that world class roads are guaranteed for Bangalore. Unfortunately that is not possible because of the provisions of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procedures Act.

I have said this at a recent meeting of the city legislators too.

The government should bring in the necessary changes and implement it. Otherwise the BMP will continue to have ‘chota-mota’ people controlling tenders. They will provide poor roads and I will have to run behind them.