Work on projects set to roll

Work on projects set to roll
Deccan Herald

The groundwork on a host of infrastructure projects in the City is likely to be set rolling soon. Grade separators, state-of-the-art Traffic and Transit Management Centres (TTMCs) and a water-pumping station are among them.


The groundwork on a host of infrastructure projects in the City is likely to be set rolling soon. Grade separators, state-of-the-art Traffic and Transit Management Centres (TTMCs) and a water-pumping station are among them.

The Urban Development Department has reportedly asked civic agencies like the BMP, the BMTA and the BWSSB to get cracking with their projects.

The direction comes in the wake of the signing of the tripartite Memorandum of Agreement among the Centre, the State and the BMP, as required under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.


The MoA, signed on December 8, amounts to formalisation of the process to make Bangalore eligible for Central assistance under JN-NURM.

Note that about 10 projects -- three grade separators and four valleys (SWDs) remodelling projects of the BMP, the TTMCs of the BMTC, the Netakal Balancing Reservoir of the BWSSB -- were earlier approved as eligible for JN-NURM aid. The UD Department’s directive is significant because Bangalore is late by a year in catching up on JN-NURM funds.

The Mission was launched on December 3, 2005, and the MoA was signed well after a year. At the BMP, Commissioner K Jairaj is learnt to have held a review meeting on the BMP projects.

A presentation on the same is likely to be made to Chief Minister Kumaraswamy on Tuesday, sources said.

Official sources explained that as per the funding norms under JN-NURM, 25 per cent of it will be released by the Centre soon after the MoA is signed.

The funds for Bangalore are likely by this month end.

Also, Urban Development Principal Secretary Lakshmi Venkatachalam has instructed these agencies to speed up on Detailed Project Reports on schemes for which funds can be sourced in the second fiscal.

Funds for urban infrastructure under JN-NURM will be shared in the ratio, 35:15:50, by the Centre, State and the local body/parastatal agency.

WATCH OUT FOR THESE

*TTMCs at Kengeri, Jayanagar and Bannerghatta. These are billed to be one-stop centres for parking, ticket reservation, vegetable stalls, insurance-related counters, restrooms and more. According to BMTC, these will be modelled on TTMCs in Shanghai, China. Private participation will be invited to run them.

*Storm Water Drain Valleys Remodelling Project (Rs 648 crore) of the BMP. The work has already started (in April 2005).

*Three underpasses (Rs 43.5 crore) including the controversial Malleswaram Circle project, the others being UPs at RV Teachers’ College junction and Tagore Circle.

*Pumping Station at BWSSB’s Netakal Balancing Reservoir to augment supply of about 100 mld. The project reportedly due for completion in a few months, will cost Rs 25 crore.

*Remodelling/replacement of old sewerage lines. Cost: Rs 190 crore.