Chief Minister reviews CDP 2015, Greater Bangalore Project

Chief Minister reviews CDP 2015, Greater Bangalore Project

The Hindu

BDA officials told to provide basic infrastructure in layouts immediately

# Four options under the project placed before H.D. Kumaraswamy
# Decision only after discussion by Cabinet
# Comprehensive Development Plan to enable disciplined growth of Bangalore

BANGALORE: The Greater Bangalore Project and the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) figured prominently at a review meeting called by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy with officials of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) here.

Four options were placed before the Chief Minister for the Greater Bangalore Project. Under the first option, the existing Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) would be retained with the seven city municipal councils (CMCs), one town municipal council (TMC) and 130 villages that were urbanised to the extent of 30 per cent.

The Greater Bangalore, thus carved, would be the second largest urban area of that nature in the country.

The second option was to have two additional corporation areas, one in the north of the existing BMP, including the CMCs, the TMC and the semi-urbanised villages, and another in the south. The third option was to divide the outlying CMCs and TMC and the semi-urbanised villages into eastern and western areas.

The fourth option was to include only the BMP, TMC and CMCs without the semi-urbanised villages. The Chief Minister said he would take a decision after examining the proposals in the Cabinet meeting.

During a presentation, the connecting road infrastructure required within the Greater Bangalore area, the finances, the population, the number of corporators and other issues were discussed.

Reviewing the BDA's blue print of the Comprehensive Development Plan 2015, Mr. Kumaraswamy directed the officials to take into account the growth of population, infrastructure necessary to sustain the growth and other environmental issues while preparing the plan. The new plan should provide for planned, disciplined growth and development of Bangalore, he told the officials.

Reacting to the contention that of the BDA sites developed and allotted over the last six or seven years, only about 40 per cent was occupied, he asked the officials to provide basic necessary infrastructure to such layouts immediately.

Housing

A proposal for BDA to enter the area of housing through a partnership with the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) also figured in the review meeting. The Chief Minister felt the BDA could explore developing more 20' x 30' and 30' x 40' sites to benefit the financially weaker sections of society, particularly those living in Bangalore for over 30 years without a house or a site. In this regard, an official felt the BDA could take up housing projects and allot them.

BDA Commissioner M.N. Vidyashankar; BDA Chairman Ramesh Kumar; Urban Development Principal Secretary Shameem Bhanu; and senior officials attended the meeting.