CM to help expedite City infrastructure

CM to help expedite City infrastructure
Deccan Herald

Alarmed by the increasing public outcry over the slow progress of infrastructure projects in Bangalore, Chief Minister N Dharam Singh on Saturday said he would convene a meeting of top BMP and urban development officials corporators on January 17 ....

Alarmed by the increasing public outcry over the slow progress of infrastructure projects in Bangalore, Chief Minister N Dharam Singh on Saturday said he would convene a meeting of top BMP and urban development officials and corporators on January 17 to set things right.

“I will personally ensure that the projects are completed on time,” he said admitting that pace of work on infrastructure facilities had come to a crawl in the city. “I know that there are some vested interests in the BMP. We will find out why contractors are not taking up projects. Everything will be set right,” he said. Mr Singh said the state has proposed the Bangalore City Development Strategic Programme (CDSP) under the National Urban Renewal Mission to the tune of Rs 10,779 crore for clearance by the Centre.

The programme covers the infrastructure needs of greater Bangalore involving the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, seven city municipal councils and town municipal council surrounding the city. The implementation is to be carried over five years and the Centre is expected to release Rs 1,000 crore this year. In a bid to ease traffic congestion, the government has prepared the Bangalore Traffic Improvement Project for Rs 350 crore to be implemented over a period of five years. A provision of Rs 44 crore has been made for the project during 2006-07. Besides, a master plan for upgradation of 38 arterial roads. He said BDA plans to invest Rs 2,945 crore for peripheral ring road, hitech city and upgradation of roads.

The BMTC will spend Rs 1,000 crore to meet Euro-3 standards, BMP will spend Rs 2,755 crore in the next two-three years on infrastructure projects, while Bescom will invest Rs 450 crore on distribution automation programme. In all, an investment of Rs 7,000 crore has been planned in city in addition to the investment under NURM.