Thirteen flyovers planned in city

Thirteen flyovers planned in city

The Hindu

20 commercial complexes likely to come up; more parks to be upgraded

# Outlay this year is estimated at Rs. 2,284.39 crores
# Focus on a `Greener Bangalore' to continue
# `Pay and park' scheme may return in a modified way
# Revenue from ads expected to be Rs. 77 crores

BANGALORE: The city's infrastructure is all set to get a major boost this year with the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) planning 13 new flyovers, eight grade separators, 15 pedestrian subways, five railway over bridges (ROB) and four railway under bridges (RUB) in its budget for 2006-2007.

Development of another 1,000 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads, upgrading of more parks and playgrounds, remodelling of markets, including the Public Utility Building (PUB), and a special package for newly added wards.

These are some of the other highlights of the BMP budget, which will be presented by the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Taxation and Finance (T&F) Lalitha Srinivasa Gowda on March 24.

Highly placed sources in the BMP told The Hindu on Saturday that the outlay this time was estimated at Rs. 2,284.39 crores. It was Rs. 1,569 crores last year.

While the Mayor's discretionary quota of Rs. 11.37 crores had shot up to Rs. 15 crores, over Rs. 60 crores had been set aside for garbage clearance, which would be made more effective and systematic after the new contracts were awarded, the sources said.

The focus on a `Greener Bangalore' will continue this year too.

The allocation for development and maintenance of parks has been increased from Rs. 10 crores to Rs. 16 crores this year.

Budget estimates

According to a draft `Budget Estimates 2006-2007,' the property tax target is Rs. 320 crores this time.

This includes Rs. 30 crores expected through the levy of solid waste management cess.

The civic body has set aside adequate allocations for the comprehensive development of the Central Business District (CBD) and newly added wards, Geographical Information System (GIS) and digitisation of sanctioned plans.

"All building plans, which will be approved by the BMP, will be digitised," the sources said.

While the levy of the proposed infrastructure cess and introduction of the new property tax scheme based on the capital value of a building are not likely to be introduced now, as it happens to be an election year,the BMP proposes to reintroduce the `pay and park' scheme in a modified way.

Joint ventures

The BMP plans to construct 20 commercial complexes through joint ventures on a `build-operate-transfer' basis. Some of these will come up on Davis Road, at Gandhi Bazaar, Hombe Gowda Nagar, Padmanabhanagar and Shivajinagar.

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The BMP expects revenue of Rs. 77 crores through advertisements.

This includes tax on hoardings on BMP land, private land, toilets, traffic signs, police kiosks, bulk shops, bulk neon signs, bus shelters and traffic signage.

Flyovers/underpasses have been planned at Cauvery theatre junction, Kanakapura Road-Ring Road junction, Minerva Circle, Yankee Factory, near Ayyappa Temple at Dasarahalli Circle in Peenya, Balekundri Circle (Queen's Road)-Cunningham Road junction, Maharani's College, Malleswaram Circle, Mission Road and South End Circle.

Railway over bridges and railway under bridges have been planned at Banaswadi, Nagawara, Sampige Road, near Anjaneswamy Temple in Srirampuram, Bapujinagar-RPC Layout, Ganagondanahalli, Khoday Circle and Mathikere.

Subways have been planned in front of Fraser Town police station, West of Chord Road, BMP head office, Rajajinagar Ist Block, K.R. Circle, M.G. Road near Arts and Crafts Centre, in front of Devaiah Park, Town Hall, near the Housing Board Colony in Govindarajanagar and connecting Vijayanagar Maruti Bande and Vijayanagar bus stand.