Is Bangalore crumbling? A guide to action

Is Bangalore crumbling? A guide to action
By Samuel Paul


There are many who seem to think that Bangalore is in terminal decline. They see the consummation of this process in the epic battle between Deve Gowda and S M Krishna. There is a dire prediction of the exit of major IT giants from the city. Some in the media believe that the rot will be stemmed only when there is a truce between these giants. It is a necessary, but not a sufficient condition for solving the city’s malaise.

The news of Bangalore’s demise, I am afraid, has been exaggerated. First of all, there should be a more balanced view of the current situation and understanding of where remedial actions are immediately needed. Glib generalisations about the crumbling infrastructure conveys a picture of everything in the city falling apart. Only five years ago, people were complaining about electricity, water, telephones, roads, transport and garbage. Today, one does not hear much about most of these services. The fact is that there has been an improvement in water supply, electricity, telecom, public transport and even garbage removal. Surveys have confirmed these improvements. We need to give credit where it is due. Of course, there is scope for further improvement in all these areas and the matter should be addressed separately. But we need to appreciate that at present from an infrastructural standpoint, the main sectors lagging behind are roads and drains. ‘Crying wolf ’ about the entire infrastructure in certainly uncalled for. Once we clearly recognise the problem’s dimensions, it will be easier to focus on the needed remedies. Exaggerated and unbalanced statements tend to create unwarranted fears and uncertainty in the minds of both citizens and investors.

Industry has highlighted the problems of roads and traffic precisely because they are adversely affected by them. But the citizens’ problems with roads goes much beyond the arterial roads in which industry is interested. Any diagnosis of the problems and remedies therefore need to go well beyond the immediate interests of industry and business. This is not to deny the need for short-term actions and patch-work on busy roads. But it is necessary to take a somewhat longer term and broader view of the problems than is evident from the debates so far. What are the major issues to be addressed and actions to be taken?

First, it is time to take a close look at the city’s roads and drainage. The state government should set up a high level joint state and BMP task force that includes non-officials and experts to propose systematic reforms in terms of road building and maintenance, drainage, new technologies and financing. Incompetence, corruption or lack of resources, or a mix of the three, are the only factors that could have brought Bangalore roads to their present state. When Mumbai and Goa have better roads despite much heavier rains, and Kerala has road contracts that ensure maintenance for 15 years (payable each year), surely, Karnataka should not continue to live in the past. Karnataka’s innovation in the use of discarded plastics in asphalting is an example of a good practice that also has the potential to reduce the clogging of drains. The task force report should be ready in six months.

Second, a paradigm shift is called for in the current ad hoc system of road resurfacing and maintenance. The wasteful practice of building roads that last just six months should cease. Depending on the types of roads, norms for maintenance, including frequency, should be developed and made known to the people. This is not a matter to be left to the whims of corporators or engineers. The task force could recommend new norms and examine their technical and financial implications.

Third, significant improvements in roads and drains will call for increased funding. There are now many new sources of funds and partnerships that the state and BMP could explore. In Indore, a smaller city, residents’ associations met over a third of roadbuilding costs. When they invest, they also take greater interest in monitoring road quality. Property tax collection can and should be augmented and tax-payer information disclosed on the BMP website. A major objective of the 74th Constitutional Amendment is to enable local governments to generate and manage their own resources.

Fourth, violations of land-use norms contribute to road and traffic problems in a big way. Enforcement of zoning laws after providing for commercial facilities in all neighbourhoods, and heavy penalties for violators, including officials, is the only way forward. Major campaigns to inform and educate the people on the need for zoning is also important. A lot of problems are caused by the disregard for the law and lack of civic sense of the people.

Fifth, the development of proper housing and road infrastructure in the city’s low-income areas and slums deserves much greater attention. We merely create master plans with scant regard for these issues. Here again, many innovative practices can be adapted to our needs. Slums can be better used and made commercially viable even for the poor. Many cities elsewhere have used part of the land for livable housing while using the remaining space to erect commercial facilities that pay for the entire development.

Finally, civil society can and should participate in the generation of new ideas, challenge abuses, and monitor what the state and its agencies do, but civic groups are not a substitute for the state and its functions. Often different segments of civil society reflect different interests. Many of the issues discussed above go beyond wards and neighbourhoods, and can be resolved only at higher levels of governance. Citizens need to demand greater transparency and accountability at these levels. Further, civic groups should also strive to encourage citizens to vote and get the kind of people they want to govern them. If we fail this test, we will have petty contractors to represent us instead of public-spirited leaders.

(The writer is former Director, IIM, Ahmedabad and founder-chairperson, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore)