'We must harness global expertise’

We must harness global expertise’
Says Vijay Mallya in an interview to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on how to improve infrastructure in Bangalore
The Times of India


Bangalore: It’s not often that two magnates exchange ideas on the city which is not only home to their business but also has a special place in their hearts. UB Group chairman Vijay Mallya talks to Biocon CMD Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw about his take on the problems of Bangalore and what could be the solutions. Excerpts from the interview, specially done for The Times of India:

Mazumdar-Shaw: What is your Vision for Bangalore?
Mallya: I would like to see Bangalore resemble Shanghai. I would like to see
Mysore and Bangalore develop as twin cities connected by a spinal cord of world-class infrastructure. I would like to reach Bangalore International Airport in 15 minutes from UB City by a metro link. I’d like to see an autonomous body that plans and manages the development of Bangalore.

Mazumdar-Shaw: How can Public-Private Partnership initiatives improve Bangalore?
Mallya: Today, money is not in short supply. Good management skills and expertise are the need of the hour. I believe that public-private initiatives should address infrastructure projects jointly where the private sector can play a major role in bringing management support. However, such initiatives should be shielded from government interference. We also need to harness the best international expertise in designing and building our infrastructure as is being done in cities like Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Dubai.

Mazumdar-Shaw: If you want to focus on one thing that can dramatically make a difference to Bangalore, what would it be?
Mallya: A quick-fix solution is to zone out a Central Business District that allows access through a toll or fee. There are many defence establishments and properties in the CBD which could be shifted to peripheral areas. These defence areas could be utilised appropriately to decongest the crowded areas. There should be no political interference in this matter.

Additionally, many existing roads can also be converted into toll roads during certain periods. The tolls and fees collected can be reinvested in infrastructure development. A decade ago, one would not have imagined that there was a market for a car costing Rs 15 lakh; today, they can barely meet the demand. Toll roads are within everyone’s means. I think there is simply no justification to ignore this. This is where political interference gets in the way of adopting such effective measures. The government can also encourage private companies to build new toll roads which would provide additional access.