t’ll cost Bangaloreans to be Greater

t’ll cost Bangaloreans to be Greater
DH News Service Bangalore:
The “proud” citizens of Bruhat Bangalore will have to dig deeper into their pockets in the coming months, with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) proposing to impose many fresh cesses and fees, revise all user charges and re-introduce the pay-and-park system in its budget 2007-08.

Bangaloreans will be shelling out more in five different ways: storm water drain cess (10 per cent of total property tax amount), solid waste management cess (charge on garbage collection from every household), infrastructure cess (charge on vehicle owners), impact fee (on owners of high-rise complexes) and revision of user charges on all services rendered by BBMP like trade license, birth and death certificate, khatha certificate, building plan sanctions and others.

Over and above, vehicle owners will again have to pay for parking. The BBMP proposes to re-introduce pay-and-park in 30 main roads, including M G Road. Here metered parking will be introduced on the lines of Brigade Road and Commercial Street. There will not be any change in the parking system on other roads.

Though the BBMP has not yet worked out the exact amount to be collected under these proposed levies, including parking, it has set a target to collect Rs 562 crore through non-tax efforts. While the Rs 3,312 crore big money budget, presented on Friday by Special Commissioner Gaurav Gupta in the absence of an elected body, dealt a shock to the citizens in the form of new levies, it has also been a huge disappointment for citizens of newly-added areas (erstwhile seven CMCs, one TMC and 110 villages) as not much importance is given for basic amenities of asphalted road and drinking water –over which citizens had great expectations.

Property tax

The BBMP has allocated Rs 10 crore to each of the new zones of newly-added areas to take up fresh works, Rs 42 crore for drinking water supply, Rs 40 crores for rejuvenation of 14 lakes and parks and others. On property tax, the BBMP has decided to continue withthe annual rateable value in old BMP areas and the Capital Value System in newly-added areas. “Introduction of a uniform property tax system will take some time. We need to do a lot of ground work for this,” BBMP Commissioner K Jairaj later told reporters.

It has set a target of Rs 610 crore from property tax, which is the main source of revenue, against 2006-07’s target of Rs 380 crore. In

Continued on Page 9 Continued from Page 1

other words, BBMP plans to increase its property tax revenue by Rs 230 crore. For this, it proposes an extensive survey of properties that are off the tax net, introduction of mobile checking squads and use of GIS.

The budget has rolled out a Rs 669-crore worth infrastructure projects aimed at easing mounting traffic problem in core areas of Bangalore, thanks to Centre-sponsored Jawahar Lal National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

It proposes to take up seven new grade separator projects, eight bridges and subways, 34 automated skywalks, widening of four main congested roads, construction of an elevated inner core ring road and a tunnel road between Minsk Square and the BDA junction.

This apart, it proposes construction of elevated roads over stormwater dra-ins. The budget will shortly be forwarded to the State Government for its approval.

INFRASTRUCTURE GETS A PUSH

* Rs 669 crore for infrastructure

* Seven new grade separators

* Eight bridges & under passes

* 34 automated skywalks

* Widening of 4 main congested roads

* Construction of Elevated Inner Core Ring Road

* Tunnel road between Minsk Square and BDA junction

* Construction of elevated road over storm water drains

* 14 lakes to be developed

* Storm water drain cess

* Solid waste management cess

* Infrastructure cess

* Impact fee

* Revision of all user charges

* Re-introduction of pay-and-park system

BBMP 2007-08 budget highlights

* Total outlay Rs 3,312 crores.

* Thrust on revenue mobilisation.

* Proposes revision of user charges for all services.

* Proposes to impose storm water drain cess

(10 per cent of property tax)

* Proposes solid waste management cess and

infrastructure cess.

* Proposes impact fee on high rise complexes.

* Proposed pay-and-park on 30 roads through metered parking system.

* 14 lakes to be developed.

* Use of recycled water in all parks and gardens.

* Rs 669 crore for roads and road related infrastructure, including new grade separators, ROBs and RUBs.

* Proposes elevated roads over storm water drains.

* Development of market place.