Can ‘Greater Bangalore’ fix CMC,TMC roads?

Can ‘Greater Bangalore’ fix CMC,TMC roads?
The Times of India


Bangalore: Will ‘Greater Bangalore’ come to the aid of suburban roads in the CMC and TMC areas around the IT city?
Sinking the hopes of suburban residents who are already dissapointed by rut-filled and near-impassable roads, a World Bank loan worth $ 217 million has left out the CMC/TMC areas for funding. Reason: The CMC/TMCs controlling this region do not have sufficient ‘repayment capacity’ to fund the road laying.

The previous Dharam Singh government and the then finance-cum-infrastructure minister P G R Sindhia had announced that 2,000 km of the CMC and TMC roads would be taken up under this World Bank-funded Karnataka Municipal Reforms Programme. But this proposal was reportedly shot down by the finance department, on the repayment issue.

“By forming ‘Greater Bangalore’, the CMC/TMCs will be integrated with the comparatively cashrich Bangalore Mahanagara Palike. The fiscal position and repayment capacity will automatically improve,’’ nodal agency Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) general manager (urban affairs) Ashok Jain told Sunday Times of India.

“We are aware that there is a crying need to fix the CMC/TMC roads. It will be done, but the process of getting funds sanctioned under the JNNURM from the Centre may take time,’’ said Jain.