Myopic civic vision is the blight on Bangalore

Myopic civic vision is the blight on Bangalore
Deccan Herald

State of Bangalore, an AC Nielsen survey initiated by CNN-IBN and Deccan Herald with Radio City as a partner, saw Bangaloreans slamming the inept municipal administration for the City’s infrastructure woes.

The causes of Bangalore’s crumbling infrastructure are not limited to bad governance or lack of planning. There’s a lack of civic sense... and violations of laws contribute to the problem.

- Samuel Paul

Chairman, Public Affairs Centre

Weighed down by bad roads and surging traffic, Bangalore is increasingly being identified with that 14-letter word – infrastructure. Or rather, two words – bad infrastructure.

The blame game could still be on at the official level, but Bangaloreans seem to be sure where the buck stops.

State of Bangalore, an AC Nielsen survey initiated by CNN-IBN and Deccan Herald with Radio City as a partner, saw Bangaloreans slamming the inept municipal administration for the City’s infrastructure woes.

To the question “What do you think is the biggest reason for all of Bangalore’s infrastructure problems?” 59 per cent of the respondents blamed unplanned development by the municipal authorities.

While 21 per cent found the boom in IT sector responsible for the problems, 20 per cent pointed at incompetent governance.

“Lack of planning by municipal authorities is the main reason for Bangalore’s infrastructure problems. The unexpected boom in the IT sector and incompetent governance are only contributing factors,” says advocate C K Nandakumar.

The argument that the City was not ready for such development doesn’t hold good, he says. “There are cities abroad that shoulder populations several folds larger than that of Bangalore, and still provide good infrastructure,” he points out

“There is no action, foresight or political will to improve the situation. While more buildings are being constructed, the roads have been sidelined,” says V Balaji, a chartered accountant. He points out that pavements in the City are also in a bad shape.

“It is the government’s responsibility to focus on all these issues, but they are failing to deliver,” he says.