BMTC for 40 more multi-level parking lots

BMTC for 40 more multi-level parking lots
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Even as Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BMP) multi-level car parking lots in city have served little purpose, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has suggested 40 more of them.

BMTC MD M R Sreenivas Murthy said on Friday these parking lots would be taken up on public-private partnership. He was speaking at a round table on Bangalore infrastructure organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC).

Murthy also said the resources of the city must be routed to civic agencies. He said BMTC will add 25 more Volvo buses to its fleet apart from 1,000 other busses.

None of BMP’s three car parks in recent years has helped in easing congestion. Those on JC Road and KG Road have been under utilised while the Garuda Mall car park is largely used by the shoppers visiting the mall.

Additional commissioner of police (Traffic) MN Reddy said the government would soon bring in a rule to take strict action on traffic violations by yellow board vehicles including autos and cabs.

‘‘The rule would make compliance with traffic discipline a condition for issue of permits. In case of violation, vehicle permits will be suspended and in case of habitual offenders, the permit would be cancelled,’’ he said.

BCIC president Ananth Koppar said the government must evolve a framework for PPP and develop necessary conditions for it in investments in city infrastructure.

Past president of BCIC M K Ramachandra said it was necessary to deploy the existing infrastructure adequately.

Commissioner of Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) Shankarlinge Gowda said the Jayadeva flyover would be open to traffic by July 7 and said the city would benefit if vertical growth is preferred.

BMP commissioner K Jairaj said the civic body lacked the capacity and technology to tackle the challenges faced by Bangalore. He said under provisioning of infrastructure had led to physical inconvenience. Jairaj emphasised on the public indifference to utilities.

The immediate concern of BMP was to monsoon-proof the city, widen roads using transfer of development rights and revive the old city area, he said. BMP would create a TDR bank so that a market for them is created, Jairaj said.

Principal secretary to Urban Development Department Laxmi Venkatachalam and BIAL CEO Albert Bruener were present.