Citizens want more funds for roads, pavements

Citizens want more funds for roads, pavements

The Hindu

BMP urged to ensure that allocated funds are judiciously spent

# BMP budget to be presented on Friday
# The civic body is all set to announce the construction of more flyovers and underpasses to decongest traffic
# Priority sought for implementing a solid waste management system
# Traders on Avenue Road seek eviction of hawkers

BANGALORE: Motorable roads and upgraded pavements in R.T. Nagar and Jayamahal, removing silt from drains and an effective cleaning system in Basaveshwaranagar, a stadium in Nandini Layout and regular drinking water in Kavalbyrasandra: these are some of the works citizens want the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) to take up on priority this year and allocate funds in its budget for 2006-2007.

The civic body is all set to announce the construction of more flyovers and underpasses to decongest the city's traffic in its budget to be presented on Friday. But citizens are more interested in knowing "whether the road in front of their house will be upgraded at least this year."

While residents of localities such as Koramangala and Jayamahal are worried that their areas lack proper roads and pavements, H.N. Devaraj from Nandini Layout and H.T. Devaraj from Basaveshwaranagar said the BMP should consult them before finalising the annual programme of works for their wards.

J. Vasudevan of the Jayamahal Citizens' Forum and S. Venkataswamaiah of Ananya Abhudaya Association said they are not bothered about what the budget proposes for major roads and prime localities. They want to know whether the footpaths on the interior lanes where they stay will be done up just like those on the main roads.

"The M.M. Road in Jayamahal is awful as it has not been asphalted for the last seven years. Huge allocations are made for roads every year in the budget, but our roads are still in a bad condition. We want the BMP to ensure that the allocated funds are judiciously spent on the work. Why should the tax payer's money be wasted?" Mr Vasudevan asked.

Members of Suprajaa, the federation of associations of Visveswarapuram, seconded this statement.

"We are not bothered about how many infrastructure projects are being announced. We are more interested in knowing whether the BMP will spend the allocations judiciously this time," Suprajaa president S.R. Venkataraman said.

"This is because BMP budgets for the last two years have several instances of allocations for works that have either been completed in the previous year or that don't need any repairs," he said.

Ram Murthi, general secretary of the Koramangala Civic Group, said the next priority after roads should be on implementing an effective solid waste management system.

"There is no point in only constructing more flyovers and developing more parks. Proper roads, drainage facilities and an effective garbage disposal system are what we require," he said.

Members of the Avenue Road Commercial Association, who are worried about unauthorised hawking in the area, said the BMP should take up measures to evict such hawkers. B.N. Rajshekar from the association said the footpaths on this road should be narrowed and brought down to the road level.

"It is enough if we have footpaths wide enough to walk because they are meant only for pedestrians," he added.