Residents submit plan for improving Malleswaram

Residents submit plan for improving Malleswaram

The Hindu

It includes upgrading roads and checking pollution

# Malleswaram Swabhimanaa Initiative has drafted the proposals
# It wants the areas improved through JNNURM
# The proposals have been submitted to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy
# `Grade separator at Malleswaram not necessary'

BANGALORE: Even as the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) is yet to prepare a city development strategic plan (CDSP) to be implemented through the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), concerned citizens of Malleswaram have come up with proposals for improving Malleswaram and Yeshwantpur areas.

The proposals, which include upgrading roads and footpaths, improving public transportation, traffic management, sewage system, storm water drains, controlling air and noise pollution, increasing green cover and raising the number of parks, solid waste management and other environmental issues, were submitted to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy last week.

Members of the Malleswaram Swabhimanaa Initiative, who have drafted the proposals, are keen on getting their areas improved through JNNURM.

"We worked on the inputs for JNNURM after the BMP had consultations with citizens on prioritisation of projects," president of the Malleswaram Swabhimanaa Initiative (MSI) Sumathi Rao told The Hindu.

"Till recently, Malleswaram was purely a residential area and was popularly known as a `heritage area.' But individual bungalows with lush gardens have given way to apartments resulting in an increase of population," she said.

Pointing out that Sampige Road, Margosa Road and several crossroads had been converted into commercial hubs, Ms. Sumathi Rao said that basic infrastructure such as roads, footpaths, transportation and traffic, water supply, sewage disposal and other civic amenities had reached the point of breakdown.

The Urban Development Department had already prepared detailed project reports (DPR) for development of storm water drain network, extension of road network and improvement of underground drainage system within the BMP limits at a cost of Rs. 1,397 crore.

Parking

"We want the Government to include upgrading storm water drains, roads and underground drainage system in Malleswaram and Yeshwanthpur in the DPRs. We feel these sectors need to be taken up on priority," said K.S. Gopinath, secretary of MSI. Pointing out that parking of vehicles needed to be regulated in Malleswaram, Mr. Gopinath said the Education Department building at Malleswaram Circle could be relocated and a parking complex built there.

Another member M.K. Subba Rao criticised the BMP for going ahead with the Malleswaram grade separator project despite objections from the residents. "We have made several representations to the authorities concerned. We have also learnt that the Government has asked the BMP to put the project on hold. It is unfortunate that the BMP officials are least bothered," Mr. Subba Rao said.

JNNURM is a Union Government plan to encourage 63 identified cities across India to bring about improvement in the existing service levels in a financially sustainable manner.

Though the BMP has proposed projects under various sectors totalling Rs. 14,000 crore to be taken up in the next seven years, it is yet to finalise the city development strategic plan.