BJP eyes BMIC to play urban card

BJP eyes BMIC to play urban card H S BALRAM
The badly needed but much-delayed Bangalore-Mysore corridor project, which comprises a superfast expressway and several townships en route, is all set to pick up speed and move ahead unhindered in a few months. No, the JD(S) and its supremo Deve Gowda haven’t had a change of heart. They continue to oppose the project and aren’t prepared to hand over land in some areas, even after the Supreme Court has come down heavily on them. But coalition partner BJP is in a different mood. If and when it takes over the reins of the government in October, the party is keen to clear all the hurdles before the project.
The BJP’s calculation is simple. One, it will send out a loud message that the party is pro-development and infrastructure will be at the top of its agenda. Two, it will help the party steal a march over the JD(S), which is widely perceived, rightly or wrongly, as anti-urban, anti-IT and antimega projects, notwithstanding the efforts made by Kumaraswamy to undo the damage. The BMIC, which has suffered at the hands of the JD(S), particularly the Gowda clan, will be a good plank for the saffron party to achieve its goals.
The BJP has already succeeded in making one of its biggest forays into the rural turf by hijacking the populist crop loan waiver scheme right from under the nose of the JD(S), which styles itself as a pro-farmer party. And with its intention to give an all-clear signal to the BMIC project, the party appears to be battle ready. Be it running the government on its own terms for 20 months from October, or facing the people confidently if a snap poll is thrust upon it. The coalition partner’s game plan has obviously unnerved the JD(S). Hectic activity is on to save face and stop the BJP from winning accolades at the cost of the JD(S).
The BJP knows that poor infrastructure has marred the name of global city Bangalore. And that accusatory fingers are being pointed mostly at the JD(S). It wants to cash in on this sentiment. Though Bangalore generates more than 50% of the state’s revenue, no sincere efforts are being made to accelerate development projects. The city, which houses some of the world’s top IT companies, must be taken care of for the good of the state’s progress and development. It needs wide and motorable roads, elevated roads, flyovers, underpasses, subways, skywalks, good footpaths and uninterrupted power and drinking water supply.
The international airport is coming up fast at Devanahalli. But the infrastructure around it is poor. A dedicated fast road-rail service connecting the heart of the city to the airport is necessary. A number of steps are no doubt being taken, but the progress is slow. Similarly, the Metro Rail project has started chugging after several hiccups. A monorail to act as feeder service is also planned. But the urgency is missing.
To connect Bangalore with Tier-II cities like Mysore, Mangalore, Hubli and Belgaum, expressways are needed. Not only will they help in decongesting Bangalore but allow Tier II cities to prosper. The BMIC project was initiated precisely for this reason. Sadly, it is caught in a political and bureaucratic wrangle. The builders are being accused of acquiring excess land, allegedly belonging to poor farmers. The truth is that most of this land belongs to highprofile politicians and bureaucrats. They do not mind reaping the benefits of the project once it comes up close to their land, but not on it.
The Supreme Court has time and again rapped the government for not allowing the project to move smoothly. But it appears to have had no effect on those at the helm. A few months ago, the Kumaraswamy government had planned to enact a legislation or bring in an ordinance to take over the BMIC project. The BJP vehemently resisted and stalled the move. Will the BJP play the loan waiver/ BMIC card to make a mark? Or will Deve Gowda play another of his master strokes? We’ll have to wait till October.
PARTING SHOT
Cess accountability
Bangaloreans will have to pay from their pockets for better infrastructure. The BBMP has imposed four news cesses — storm water drain cess, solid waste management cess, infrastructure cess, and impact cess on high-rise commercial buildings. Fair enough. The citizens don’t mind paying them as long as the money collected is utilised for what it’s meant. Remember the cess on petrol that we have been paying for the last several years to fund mega-city projects. In fact, petrol costs the highest in the IT capital. No one knows how and where the money is being used. Mr Administrator and Mr Commissioner, the citizens appreciate your efforts to improve infrastructure. What they seek is transparency and visibility. And, of course, accountability.