Road to nowhere?

Road to nowhere?
It has virtually been a roller-coaster ride for the 111-km Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) in the past 12 years. Four governments have presided over its fate. The promoters have sought relief from the Supreme Court and high courts. But it continues to hit roadblocks, caught in the ego clashes of the powers-that-be. The latest threat is the government toying with the idea of dumping its present executors, Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises, and giving the project to a US-based consortium. TOI tracks the ups and downs of the BMIC over the years
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

SC hearing put off Bangalore: The contempt petition against the Karnataka government filed by Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project promoter NICE, scheduled to come up in the Supreme Court on Monday, was put off.
The case could not be taken up as one of the judges was absent. BMIC promoter Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises has filed a contempt case against the government for not providing them the required land, despite the apex court giving the green signal to proceed with the project.
The case has taken an interesting turn with the Karnataka government filing an affidavit in the court on July 28, stating it was considering offering the project’s implementation to a US-based consortium. According to the government’s admission in the affidavit, the Global Infrastructure Consortium has come up with a good package with no cost to the former. GIC gave fake address: Kheny
Bangalore: Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) promoter Ashok Kheny decided to file a petition before the US commerce department, asking it to frame charges against the US-based Global Infrastructure Consortium (GIC) for providing a fake address of its set-up in Bangalore.
The GIC, consisting of five companies, recently proposed to the state government that it was willing to take over BMIC from Kheny’s Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE).
On the assurances from the consortium, the government filed an additional affidavit in the Supreme Court favouring completion of works by GIC.
The office address provided by the GIC appears to be rather unconvincing. The project offer letter written by GIC to the government on July 6, gives the address as #100, 4th Cross, 4th Block, Koramangala, Bengaluru-560034. When TOI called up the numbers given in the GIC’s letterhead, it found that a different company under the name Ashford Private Ltd was operating out of that address. The building owner also denied that GIC was functioning from this address.
There was no reply from Nikhil Gandhi’s office (director of Mumbai-based SKIL Infrastructure Limited, one of the partner in this consortium) when asked to comment on the fake address.
A NICE representative maintained that GIC is not at all a registered company and questioned the government’s credibility in filing the additional affidavit in SC favouring GIC.
TIMELINE
1995: Project proposed by NICE Limited 1998: Preliminary notification for land along highway and first township July 2000: Public hearings in Bangalore, Mysore and Mandya Aug 2001: Environment clearance Aug 2001: Toll-franchise agreement
BMIC FEATURES
Four expressways 41 km — links National Highways 7 and 4 111 km — links Bangalore and Mysore 9 km links expressway to state highway 17 3 km — elevated expressway connects Link Road to downtown Bangalore Five townships: Each has schools, hospitals, parks and recreation facilities, water and power supplies and telecommunication links and sewage treatment facilities Corporate centre: Separate centre for corporate headquarters and R&D facilities Commercial centre: Home for retail light industry and municipal support services Industrial centre: Focal point for durable goods, industrial research and development Heritage centre: A lake surrounded by buildings which house arts, crafts, traditional healing facilities, etc. Eco-tourism centre: Environmental attractions
EXCESS ROW
March 24, 2005: K C Reddy committee submits report to Karnataka High Court
NICE requires only 17,809 acres against the company’s demand of 20,193 acres
The figure of 20,193 acres quoted by NICE is an annexure to the agreement, which is not signed by anyone and looks like it was added on later
Committee cleared land sought for all townships but the bone of contention was land required for the peripheral and link road, interchanges and the service road around Bangalore
March 27, 2005: Deve Gowda’s defence of his opposition to BMIC
“I have no selfish ends to achieve, I am opposed to misappropriation of government and private land.’’
“BMIC project was approved in 1985, not during my chiefministership.’’
“I did not sign an MoU with NICE on February 22, 1995; an MoU was signed with a consortium of three foreign companies, NICE is not party to it or a lawful inheritor of the rights of that consortium.’’
“NICE is not keen to implement the project beyond Bidadi. Earthwork is going on only near Bangalore.’’
“Total land as per government order on November 20, 1995 for the project — 18,313.37 acres; revised on April 3, 1997 in FWA when C R Ramesh was PWD secretary — 20,193 (excess 1,880 acres); revised in KIADB-NICE agreement on October 14, 1998 when M K Shankarlinge Gowda was KIADB CEO — 23,846 acres (excess 5,533 acres); land notified by KIADB as per letter on May 22, 2004, when Anees Siraj was special DC — 29,258 acres (excess 10,945 acres).’’
IN THE COURTS
MAY 3, 2005
HIGH COURT ORDER
Execute BMIC project as originally conceived and upheld by HC in Somashekhar Reddy case order of August 21, 1998
Implement FWA signed by Karnataka and NICE on April 3, 1997 in letter and spirit.
Govt orders dated November 4, 2004 and December 17, 2004 constituting K C Reddy Committee to review and act as expert panel for BMIC project quashed
All orders of K C Reddy Committee quashed
NICE to implement BMIC project as expeditiously as possible
Prosecution of then chief secretary K K Misra, under secretary industries and commerce department M Shivalingaswamy for perjury.
Misra’s plea that state government was defrauded by NICE and the former’s suppression of documents described as unfortunate.
State raised fraud bogie to defeat public project and subserve public interest
MAY 11, 2005
GOVT FILES A SPECIAL LEAVE
PETITION IN SUPREME COURT
Sought an interim, exparte stay of the HC judgment.
The SLP focused on two issues: NICE wants land around Bangalore purely for real estate; the MoU Karnataka signed with a foreign consortium in 1995 did not provide for assignment of the project to anyone else, including NICE, so such an act is illegal.
MAY 13, 2005
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SLP?
SC stayed the entire HC judgment, admitted Karnataka’s SLP.
It directed NICE to expedite the project’s completion and asked the state government to honour the 1997 FWA.
Quashed the state government’s order constituting an expert committee and a review committee to reappraise the project, ordering prosecution of then chief secretary K K Misra and commerce and industries under secretary M Shivalingaswamy for perjury.
APRIL 20, 2006
SC GREEN SIGNAL TO BMIC
SC orders BMIC to go ahead with the project.
Directs Karnataka to pay NICE Rs 5 lakh for filing a “frivolous litigation’’. Also said the mega project was in the larger public interest and the only ground for its review appeared to be the change of government in 2004.
Court said MLAs J C Madhuswamy and G V Sriramareddy — used as pawns for filing PILs — against the project before the Hight Court and then in SC — were asked to pay a cost of Rs 50,000 by the Bench. This amount will be in addition to the similar amount imposed as cost on them by the HC. QUOTE HANGER

“He has been able to garner enormous sympathy and successfully diverted attention of all concerned away from his sinister game plan to acquire nearly 5,000 acres of prime land around Bangalore.’’ H D Deve Gowda | (FORMER PM) ON NICE PROMOTER ASHOK KHENY


“If 2,450 acres are excess in this, are we supposed to build the road on eight acres? There are no poor farmers there, only land mafia. Hundreds are grabbing land and making profits without investing a rupee in the state. We are investing our money without any government guarantee and have not earned a single rupee from it so far.’’ Ashok Kheny | NICE PROMOTER


“If NICE seriously wants to take road works, we are willing to discuss it. I also want the road to take off. But disinformation is being spread that I have some hatred towards the project. This has to stop. For a road worth Rs 1,000 crore maximum, they, a Rs 70 company, want to grab land worth Rs 50,000 crore. H D Kumaraswamy | CHIEF MINISTER


“My prime concern is that the BMIC should happen and it should happen within the framework of law. If I, my brother, my father or any of my family members own any land which is part of the
2,451 acres of excess land, we will give it away to whoever wants it without taking a paisa.’’ H D Revanna | MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND POWER


FLIP-FLOP
“A new law will be brought in to ensure “excess’’ land is not given to the promoter. We are not willing to give excess land. We are bringing a law to this effect. But we are not against the project itself.’’ B S Yediyurappa | DEPUTY CM
Yediyurappa (legislative assembly, opposition leader- August 6, 2004): Alleged irregularities in the BMIC project. Wanted the Congress-JD(S) government to either set up a special court or order a judicial inquiry.

Monsoon in its full glory

Monsoon in its full glory
Tuesday July 31 2007 10:37 IST

BANGALORE: The south-west monsoon (SWM) showers are in full swing. The city has been receiving good rainfall for the past few days.

The city meteorological department recorded around 9.2 mm rainfall up till 8.30 pm on Monday and around 0.4 mm rainfall was recorded at the Airport.

The city recorded a maximum temperature of 26.7°C and a minimum of 20.2°C on Monday. Whereas, the maximum and minimum recorded on July 29 was 28.6°C and 20.4°C respectively, with rainfall recorded in traces.

The met office, on July 28, recorded a maximum of 27.4°C and a minimum of 20.6°C and the rainfall recorded was 27.8 mm. The temperatures over the last few days have dipped and Bangaloreans are enjoying the cool weather.

Weather experts opine that the temperature and rainfall pattern will vary during the month of August as well as this a common phenomenon during the SWM showers. The same is likely to continue till the second week of October.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is also geared up to tackle the problems of the people in the lowlying and vulnerable areas of the city.

A tree branch fell at Koramangala 4th Block on July 30. BBMP officials said that the team was all prepared to tackle any situation during the downpour.

BMTC gets bigger, in top gear

BMTC gets bigger, in top gear

Anil Kumar Sastry

The corporation’s purview will extend to 45 km from the central bus station


BANGALORE: Amidst several shortcomings, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is geared to improve transport service within 45 km from the city centre.

Soon after constitution of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), BMTC Managing Director Upendra Tripathy had told The Hindu that the corporation would commission a survey. After three months, the corporation is all set to i mplement a comprehensive plan in a phased manner.

Construction of 34 new bus depots by acquiring over 300 acres of land taking the total to 67 depots; deployment of over 3,000 new buses and construction of several mini-bus stations are on the agenda. Some towns, namely Anekal, Malur, Devanahalli, Ramanagaram, Magadi and Doddaballapur, which are covered by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), will come under BMTC’s purview.

BMTC has paid Rs. 46 crore to Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for 190 acres of land to build new depots.

It has identified 13 places at strategic locations along the proposed peripheral ring road being built by BDA for setting up depots.
Depots

The proposed depots, each estimated to cost Rs. 2.5 crore, would come up at Hoskote, Gunjur Palya, Bidadi, Nagarabhavi, Nelamangala, Vaddarahalli, Bannerghatta, Anjanapura, Kengeri, Arishinakunte, International Airport, Shanthinagar, Madavara, Harohalli, Venkatala, Bairati, Avalahalli, Channasandra, Kodathi, Dodda Thugur, Sulikere, Machohalli, Chellaghatta, Kaggalipura, Gollahalli, Soladevanahalli, Anekal, Doddaballapura, Malur, Devanahalli, Ramanagara, Magadi, Tavarekere and Poornaprajna Layout (Uttarahalli Main Road).

He said the corporation was working out the funding pattern to take up these projects, which together might cost Rs. 3,000 crore.
Bus stations

Similarly, bus stations were planned at Anjanapura, Hessaraghatta, Kengeri, Nagarabhavi, Vidyaranyapura, Visvesvaraya Layout, Yeshwanthpur and Yelahanka V Phase.

The corporation will have to augment its fleet by adding at least 3,000 new buses in two years and shortly it will add 600 buses, according to Hemaraju, Director (Technical). More buses mean more crew and as such, BMTC will go on a recruitment spree.

The corporation advertised for recruiting 3,000 drivers and conductors, said Chief Traffic Manager (Operations) Dastagir Sharief.

Key points in City in dire need of fire safety steps

Key points in City in dire need of fire safety steps
By Monica Jha, DH News Service, Bangalore:
At the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation station, one of the busiest in the country not a single fire extinguisher is there in the entire area.


How fire-safe are crowded public places in the City? In the wake of the recent Public Utility Building blaze, Deccan Herald went around the BMTC and Kempe Gowda bus stations as well as the City Railway Station to get a first-hand idea but came away with some alarming findings.

At the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation station, one of the busiest in the country, BMTC’s Chief Traffic Manager Dastagir Sharief said more than 7 lakh people commute from the station every day.

On an average, one bus arrives or departs from the station every 20 seconds. But not a single fire extinguisher is seen in the entire area.

Asked about this, Nagaraj KBS, Assistant Traffic Manager, glossed over the issue, saying, “The BMTC head office at Shantinagar is responsible for such arrangements.”

Though this reporter was referred to one Ambareesh, who apparently is in-charge of Security and Vigilance in BMTC, he had little to offer by way of information.

Mr Sharief said the corporation had taken fire safety measures after a crude bomb was found on the station premises a year ago. “Since that incident (bomb), we’ve been taking all possible measures. We’ve 12 fire extinguishers but you may not find them outside as they’ve been kept in a room. If we place them outside, they won’t last long.”

RPF has no role

It was no different at the City Railway Station, which has at least a lakh people moving through it every day, but not a single fire extinguisher. Railway Protection Force (RPF) is in-charge of fire-safety here, the Deputy Station Manager said.

But RPF Duty Officer J Mokashi said “RPF doesn’t take care of fire safety any more. We used to look after fire safety earlier. But now this matter does not part of our brief.”

No idea

The security personnel on-duty at the station entrance D C Sharma had no idea about such arrangements, either. But Nazeer Ahmed, a porter at the station for 40 years now, said he had never seen a fire extinguisher on the platforms. Nor have any of the shopkeepers at IRCTC stalls at the entrance.

At Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation’s Kempegowda terminus, Security Officer Vasanth Kumar said 56 fire extinguishers are ‘available’ at the station.

However, this reporter could see only three, each of 5 kg capacity. Two of these, kept in Comprehensive Trauma Centre, were not refilled though the refill date expired this March. “We refill the cylinders every year,” Mr Kumar had said.

“What’s the point in keeping fire extinguishers where the public can’t see and use them?” asked Sudhakara M, a regular RTC passenger.

IG of Police and Additional Director of Fire and Emergency Services C Chandrashekhar said it was the responsibility of the individual departments/ organisations concerned to take fire safety measures. We recommend some precautionary measures only in the case of high-rise buildings.”

BMIC: a saga of legal roadblocks

BMIC: a saga of legal roadblocks
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: The state’s ‘escape hatch’ of the Swiss Challenge method is the latest in a long legal tangle: if the government is keen to stop the project, implementation company Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) is equally committed in going ahead.
The state’s additional affidavit filed before the Supreme Court on Saturday tries to eliminate NICE from implementing any further the BMIC project. Instead, a new company, Global Infrastructure Consortium (GIC) is to complete it. This fresh development appears to be a cover-up for any possible rebuke from the apex court. The apex court, in April 2006, passed strictures against the state and had ordered it to provide all requirements to expedite BMIC.
Why the contempt petition:
Despite the apex court order, nothing much happened for a very long time. Result: NICE filed a contempt petition before the SC demanding implementation of the April 2006 order, particularly with respect to land. “No effort has been made by the government to remove obstacles faced by the company in implementing the project,’’ a NICE representative told The Times of India.
Even the apex court judgement came after a Karnataka High Court order of May 3, 2005, upholding the NICE case. The SC on April 20, 2006, dismissed the government’s petition against the high court order, paving way for NICE to go ahead with the project.
New deal: The new deal between the government and GIC was struck when the latter wrote to public works minister H D Revanna on July 6, offering to take up the project. However, coalition partner BJP is clueless on these developments. When contacted, deputy CM B S Yediyurappa said: “I don’t know anything about this affidavit.’’
What SC order said: A Bench comprising Justice Ruma Pal, Justice B N Srikrishna and Justice Dalveer Bhandari dismissed the government’s petition and cleared the Rs 2,250 crore four-lane expressway. It said: “The government appeal was with mala fide intention.”
It also imposed a penalty of Rs 5 lakh on the government for bringing before it “frivolous arguments.’’

Swiss Challenge is a NICE headache

Swiss Challenge is a NICE headache
Rakesh Prakash | TNN

Bangalore: Will the ‘Swiss Challenge’ help the state government beat the NICE claim to BMIC?
Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy is trying to cower behind the Swiss Challenge method to bail the government out of contractual obligations with Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), the promoters for the contentious Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project. The state used it to cite objections in its affidavit to Supreme Court on Saturday.
But many in the bureaucratic and political circles are not enthused as the method is considered outdated the world over.
Swiss Challenge is a form of public procurement. It requires a public authority, which has received an unsolicited bid for a public project (example: road construction) to open the project for other bidders. They can either match or exceed the first bid.
As a precursor to the affidavit, the Swiss Challenge concept was included in the Infrastructure Policy-2007 cleared by the cabinet on July 4. But the run-up to the cabinet clearance has left many questions unanswered about the necessity of the Swiss Challenge system.
Documents accessed by The Times of India reveal that the Kumaraswamy government adopted Swiss Challenge system despite the Centre clarifying that “it was not a transparent solution in the current competitive scenario and instead was a solution for public-private-partnership (PPP) in the past.’’ A series of discussions on PPP organised by the Planning Commission during May-June 2006 also expressed the same views on the Swiss Challenge system. Subsequently, the state’s infrastructure development department and chief secretary held internal meetings and identified certain problems that render Swiss Challenge nontransparent.
The major problems were: The detailed project report prepared by the first proposer could be skewed towards a specific objective; the proposer has the first right of refusal at the final stage, so there would be no real interest in other competitors to submit good proposals.
The Centre has also made it clear that public projects taken up through Swiss Challenge system will not receive any central assistance. This apart, the state’s finance department headed by deputy CM B S Yediyurappa had opined that the Swiss Challenge was not in consonance with the provisions of Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act.
Despite all this, the urban development department headed by Kumaraswamy decided to introduce Swiss Challenge in the infrastructure policy. It went a step ahead and changed the nomenclature to ‘suomoto/innovative proposal’.
An official, who advocated the Swiss Challenge method, said: “We have made some changes to make it transparent. Now, the government will have the right to review the first detailed project report and modify it depending on the public need. Secondly, the first right of refusal has been removed.’’
The official pointed to the existence of Swiss Challenge in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, but failed to explain how many projects had been completed after this method was introduced. Despite all such doubts, the Kumaraswamy government has cited Swiss Challenge to push forward the Global Infrastructure Consortium’s claim to develop BMIC.

Government claim over BMIC incorrect: Kheny

Government claim over BMIC incorrect: Kheny

Staff Reporter

He blames coalition politics for the move

Consortium is no longer interested in the project: Kheny

‘Partners have nothing to do

with consortium’

BANGALORE: The claim by the State Government that a U.S.-based consortium has offered to take over the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project is incorrect, Ashok Kheny, Managing Director, Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise Ltd. (NICE), told The Hindu here on Sunday.

According to him, the consortium is no longer interested in the project and has “distance itself” from it.

Mr. Kheny’s reaction comes in the wake of the State Government’s affidavit before the Supreme Court proposing that NICE, which is implementing the BMIC, be taken off the project and that it be given to the $250 billion Global Infrastructure Consortium (GIC).

The consortium comprises the following companies from the United States and India as partners: Indus Capital, USA; New York Life Insurance Fund, USA; Urban Infrastructure Fund, Mumbai; Avenue Capital, USA; SKIL Infrastructure Limited (SKILIL), Mumbai, and IREO Fund of the USA.

The consortium has suo motu offered to undertake construction of the expressway and also throw in a monorail along it free of cost. The State Government has sought the permission of the Supreme Court to go ahead with this proposal.< /p>

Mr. Kheny claimed that the correspondence addresses of SKILIL in Mumbai and Bangalore were false.

He said some of the partners had sent him letters saying that they had nothing to do with the consortium, but refused to name these partners. He had brought this to the notice of the Supreme Court and also to the Commerce Department of the U.S.

Mr. Kheny blamed what he called the “super corrupt State Government” under the leadership of “one family” for the move under what was known as Swiss Challenge Method.

The aim was to create confusion among the people, he said.

In the first place, the method was applicable where projects changed hands because of “new ideas”. Besides, this was not in practice in India and was illegal, he claimed.

Mr. Kheny pointed out that the proposal had come a year after the State Government dropped special legislation aimed at nullifying the agreement with NICE citing “certain constraints in a coalition set-up”.

He pointed out that he too could submit a proposal to the State Government under the Swiss Challenge Model to acquire the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli. His “new idea” was to save some 1,000 acres of land to the Government and give back the Rs. 350 crore grant the Government had committed to give to the project. He would show that the project ran at a profit as the value of the land had gone up several times.

No road leads to International Airport

No road leads to International Airport
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Greenfield International Airport at Devanahalli will be operational in about nine months from now, but the work on connecting roads is unlikely to be completed by that time.

The Airport Expressway, the BIAL’s trumpet flyover and the yet-to-be formulated metro rail route from Cantonment Railway Station to Devanahalli are the only modes of commuting to the international airport. None of these projects will be ready by April next.

Airport Expressway-BMRDA

The 26 km BMRDA Airport Expressway, has been entrusted with the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL).

The Expressway will start near the Hennur-Challakere Stretch on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and then pass through Bidarahalli, Chikka Gubbi, Bagalur to reach Devanahalli.

Talking about the progress on the Expressway, BMRDA Commissioner Sudhir Krishna said, “The entire Airport expressway project has been submitted to the KRDCL. The survey work of the expressway has begun. The boundary or marker stones are being laid for the road alignment. The entire project will be on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.”

“A request for qualification of concessionaires was announced and about 26 concessionaires have been considered. The selection is under progress and whoever qualifies will bid the documents,” explained Sudhir Krishna.

The hitch in the progress would be land acquisition says the BMRDA Commissioner.

“Works will begin in September. However, the hurdle in the works will be land acquisition. It would take about 15-18 months for the completion of the Airport expressway project,” said Sudhir Krishna.

BIAL expressway starts near Horamavu and first 2 km from ORR is an all-elevated 6-lanes design, with Clover leaf exchange planned at Peripheral Ring Road. This expressway too ends up on NH7 airport link road, and not on NH7 itself.

Rail Link to BIAL

The rail link to the BIAL will however be another slow starter for the connectivity to the International airport.

What may be disappointing is the time factor as to when the project would begin. Although rail link would be a great relief for commuting, the works will not begin before 2009.

Sriramulu, Minister for Infrastructure Development, says, “A metro rail, as per the world class standards, will be laid for the connectivity till airport. The metro rail connectivity to Airport will be discussed in the cabinet.”

“The works will begin earliest by 2009 after the airport is operational” added Sriramulu. What is ironical is even if the rail alignment to Airport works begin in 2009 it could easily take six to eight years for the completion of the project.

BIAL trumpet flyover

A breather for the connectivity however seems to be the ‘trumpet flyover’.

Although the trumpet flyover was supposed to be built by the state government, it backed off the project.

However, the trumpet flyover project is now being constructed by the BIAL. The trumpet flyover project may also be delayed, as one of the road-over-bridges will not be constructed on time due to land litigations.

Saga of traffic chaos at highways and ORR junctions

Saga of traffic chaos at highways and ORR junctions
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Traffic menace seems to be getting worse with every passing day, especially at highway and ring road junctions.

It’s even worse during peak hours, where each one is in a hurry. With over 8,000 vehicles registering every day, the roads seem to be getting smaller to handle the traffic rush.

Commuters opine that there are neither traffic signals nor police officials guiding traffic, leading to snail paced traffic and increasing accidents.

They also say the intersections which are further from city limits have been ignored by the traffic police department. Intersections at Marathahalli, Magadi Road, Outer Ring road towards HBR Layout, Old Madras Road and Tumkur Road to name a few, have been neglected.

“These junctions need maximum attention as heavy duty vehicles, public transports and two and four wheelers ply. There are many instances where motorists have met with accidents or are victims to traffic congestions. This is a common sight because there is nobody to guide traffic,” said Ashok T, a commuter.

The situation is worse during nights when heavy duty vehicles ply on high beam making it very difficult two wheelers.

“There have been instances when I am forced to stop at road-sides as trucks moving from the other side tend to overtake, which is very dangerous,” said Sumith M, a commuter.

Govt may snatch BMIC from NICE

Govt may snatch BMIC from NICE



US Consortium Enters With Sweeteners


TIMES NEWS NETWORK



Bangalore: The tussle between the Karnataka government and promoters of Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) just got fiercer. The government filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court on Saturday, stating that it’s considering handing over the project to a new international consortium.
Even as BMIC promoters Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) are in the 16th month of project execution, Karnataka government has justified the reasons for its rethink. A US-based consortium with a turnover of over Rs 10 lakh crore has offered to construct Rs 1,700 crore estimated monorail from the Electronic City to upcoming international airport at Devanahalli at no cost to government, return land not required for the project which is expected to fetch Rs 30,000 crore and deposit Rs 1,000 crore with the government to be forfeited in the event of it failing to meet deadlines.
The members of the Global Infrastructure Consortium are: Indus Capital, US; New York Life Insurance Fund, US; Urban Infrastructure Fund, Mumbai; Avenue Capital, US, Skil Infrastructure Ltd, Mumbai and IREO Fund, US.
“The proposal submitted by the new consortium not only enhances BMIC project’s value by providing an additional infrastructure in terms of mono rail, on the contrary dilutes various obligations of the government, which will be beneficial to the people and state,’’ the affidavit said.
Stating the government cannot impose penalties on NICE for delays in project implementation or financial closure, the consortium has proposed self-imposed penalties. If the financial closure does not happen within 18 months of signing the agreement, it will pay the government Rs 3 lakh for each day of delay and Rs 5 lakh per day if the project is not completed within seven years from the date of financial closure.
Criticising NICE for being interested only in “making profit from illegal sale of land in toll road,’’ the affidavit said the consortium wants to take up the project under the Swiss Challenge approach (a new bidding system to help the private sector). “These proposals are not only beneficial to the state, but the Swiss Challenge approach will ensure transparency. With NICE insisting on the right to sell and develop land for the purpose of profiteering at the expense of the state, Karnataka government is left with no option but to consider the proposal,’’ the affidavit said.
The Supreme Court will resume hearing of the contempt petition filed against the state government by NICE on Monday.

CONSORTIUM OFFERS...



Rs 1,700-cr, 41-km Monorail (as per state government affidavit)

Self-imposed penalty to achieve financial closure within 18 months of all agreements being signed

Rs 3-lakh penalty for each day of delay, if any

Completion of BMIC project within 7 years

Will require just 6,499 acres of land for BMIC


NICE MD Ashok Kheny said: “I will put a consortium together to take over the international airport’s execution. Therefore, where is the sanctity of agreements? I refuse to succumb to such blackmail tactics.’’
Kheny told STOI that he had proposed a monorail up to Mysore, which was not considered. Besides the Swiss Challenge approach under Karnataka’s infrastructure policy was for new projects, not for ongoing ones.

Open spaces shrinking

Open spaces shrinking



TIMES NEWS NETWORK



Bangalore: Open spaces for parks and p u bl i c amenities in Bangalore are a mere 1.27% of the total land area of Bangalore. The rest is a concrete jungle.
Underlining this shocking statistic in the legislative assembly, N L Narendra Babu (Cong) on Friday appealed to the government to set up a monitoring committee to protect the remaining open spaces in the city.
“Under the Karnataka Open Spaces Act, at least 10% of the city’s area should be kept as open space. But in Bangalore, it has already shrunk to just 1.27%. We need to preserve what remains,’’ Babu said.
Quoting statistics from the Master Plan 2015, which was approved this year, Babu said even the report said that only 7.81% of land in the city comprised open spaces.

City parks up for adoption

City parks up for adoption



The adopt-apark scheme of the BBMP, on the lines of the public-private partnership model, promises to see many green spaces in the city developed. Leena Mudbidri reports




Rapid urbanisation has led to widening of several arterial roads in the city and in the bargain the green cover has been adversely affected. Concerted efforts of the civic bodies in maintaining and enhancing the greenery has not been without good results. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has added yet another scheme as part of the public-private partnership initiative towards greening the city - adopt-a-park scheme.

Garnering support

Outlining the plan to garner public and corporate support for this initiative, Krishna Udapudi, deputy conservator of forests, BBMP said that the adopt-a-park scheme will be on the lines of the adopta-lake concept. Corporates, individuals or residential associations could come forward to adopt any of the parks in the BBMP limits. "The adoption and maintenance plan will be for a minimum period of one year and upto three years," said Udapudi. "During this period the agency or individual will take the responsibility of maintenance of the park as well as the care of facilities such as benches, walkways, children's play area and other park furniture," he added.
"Any corporate agency that comes forward to adopt a park will be given space to display the company logo alongside that of the BBMP," informed Udapudi.

Parks already adopted

Presently, 35 parks have been adopted by real estate developers, IT companies, banks, social help groups, and residential colonies in the city. Parks have been adopted for maintenance in R T Nagar, Sadashivnagar, Sanjay Nagar, Koramangala - KHB Colony, 80 Feet Road and 8th Main in 4th Block. Richmond Park in Shanthinagar and Coles Park in Fraser Town, and some parks in HAL 2nd Stage and 16th Main, Defence Colony in Indiranagar, at Banashankari and Lakkasandra have been adopted
"The park near the Sankey Tank in Sadashivnagar has been adopted by the Sadashivnagar Residents Association and is a shining example of community participation," says the official.

Application prerequisites

The company, individual or social group interested in adopting a park can apply in writing to the commissioner stating the interest for adoption, adoption period and the plans for further improvement of the adopted park. "The organisation or individual's profile is further assessed by our department to ensure that the adopting agent is financially capable of investing in the maintenance of the park," informed Udapudi. "Besides the proposal for adoption of the park, the applicant should also submit a design plan for developing or modifying the open areas around the park for park furniture and other landscaping activities," he added.
The adopt-a-park application form and the terms and conditions for the adopting agency are being worked out, and will soon be finalised. Once completed, the forms will be available on the BBMP website and at the office of the deputy conservator of forests, BBMP.

Madness on MG Road

Madness on MG Road



TIMES NEWS NETWORK



Bangalore: Traffic came to a full stop for over four hours on Thursday on the city’s MG Road, located in the heart of the city, during the morning-noon peak hours.
A fire at the Public Utility Building (PUB) and a procession by the Janata Dal (United) against the proposed creation of a special economic zone at Nandagudi led to chaos on the road, making traffic policemen, vehicle-users and pedestrians sweat it out.
Vehicles started piling up at 12.30 pm after the fire broke out at the PUB on MG Road. In fact, commuters were caught unawares as they had no information about either the protest or the fire. A huge convoy of fire tenders, official and private vehicles as well as PUB employees and onlookers also contributed to the traffic jam. It had a cascading effect on other roads — Residency Road, Brigade Road, St Mark’s Road, Raj Bhavan Road, Cubbon Road, Queen’s Road and Kasturba Road. For over three hours, the policemen stopped vehicles entering MG Road from Mayo Hall junction and Brigade Road junction to make way for fire tenders. The situation worsened due to the JD(U) protest.
It was only around 4.30 pm that the situation eased. The time coincided with CM H D Kumaraswamy’s arrival to the city as he travelled from the airport to his residence without delay via the designated Cubbon Road.

Farmers protest against SEZ

Thousands of farmers from Nandagudi descended at the Mahatma Gandhi Statue on MG Road on Thursday, demanding that the government revoke its SEZ plans in Nandagudi.
This time, Congress that received brickbats for playing a “double game’’. “While the Congress lead-UPA at the Centre approved SEZ plan, the party, which is the opposition, is fighting against it,’’ said JD(U) president B Somashekar. The eight-hour-long protest comprised a drive with slogan-shouting bands from Nandagudi, a walk from Ulsoor to Raj Bhavan to submit a memorandum to governor T N Chaturvedi.

BangaloreOne Centres Will Now Add The Sale Of Movie Tickets To Their List Of Services Provided

BangaloreOne Centres Will Now Add The Sale Of Movie Tickets To Their List Of Services Provided
Amit S Upadhye | The Times of India

Bangalore: No more long queues at cinema halls or malls, nor resorting to purchasing movie tickets from touts. For, the BangaloreOne centre near your house just made it easier for you to buy movie tickets, along with access to a host of other services already on offer. And this is just the beginning as BangaloreOne centres will widen the gamut of the services they offer.
As many as 19 theatres have tied up with BangaloreOne centres to issue tickets and more are expected to follow suit. By the next fortnight, the service will be made available in all the 16 BangaloreOne centres spread across the city. Furthermore, the Directorate of Electronic Delivery of Citizen Services (EDCS) will double the numbers of BangaloreOne centres across the city, with two of them at M S Building and Koramangala National Games Village. They’ll be operational by the first week of August.
Around 16 others centres are expected to be set up at BDA complexes.
Now, you can book a ticket just by mentioning the movie name or the theatre screening it at a BangaloreOne centre. This facility will allow the B1 operator to validate the booking before conducting any transaction at the BangaloreOne centre.
After booking the ticket, a receipt along with an I-ticket transaction number will be generated and handed over to the customer.
This system will work online and there is a nominal booking fee.
Advance booking can also be done for movies being screened the following week. As long as the movies are listed on the site, people can book tickets for those movies.
“This service will be available at all BangaloreOne centres at present and will be extended to new centres in the future. The software application is ready and is in the final stages of testing. The service is expected to be launched in a fortnight,’’ EDCS director Vipin Singh, told The Times of India.
“We want to increase the geographical reach of BangaloreOne centres. We are also looking at bringing in more services to enrich the citizen’s experience,’’ he added.
B1 centres, which have been functioning for the past 20 months, were closed for only for a day due to the Bangalore bandh following the Cauvery verdict. And the services offered has become a hit. On any day, around 18,000 people walk in to the 16 centres round the clock.
Senior citizens seem to have benefited the most. “We need not stand for long hours. The officials here treat us well and its quick,’’ feels Bhagyamma, a senior resident from JP Nagar.
Another senior citizen, Premchand, feels transactions at B1 centres save a lot of time. “I run a business in RT Nagar. Every time I have to pay my bills, one of my workers lands up wasting half-a-day or I have to do it myself. With more services on offer at B1 centres, its a cakewalk now,’’ he added.
SERVICES AT BANGALOREONE CENTRES
Bill payments of Bescom, BSNL, BWSSB, CellOne, Airtel, Reliance, Tata Indicom and Spice companies
Payment of property tax and issue of birth and death certificates
Railway reservations and domestic flight bookings
Renewal of learner’s licence and payment of road tax
Renewal of BMTC monthly pass
Payment of traffic fines
Worldwide money transfer service
Sale of passport applications, registration for new passports and renewal of passports
Renewal of registration certificate for shops and commercial establishments
Market value assistance for property registration
Insurance payment for INGVysya customers BangaloreOne centres operate throughout the year and are open 24/7
Cash not accepted between 8 pm and 8 am
Call BangaloreOne helpline on 22955400/01
IN THE PIPELINE
Book KSRTC and private bus tickets throughout South India Book international flight tickets Book tour packages Pay LIC premium
THESE THEATRES TO BE LINKED TO B1
Abhinay, Santosh, Tribhuvan, Triveni, Menaka, Movie Land, Kailash, Pallavi, Innovative Multiplex, Inox Multiplex, Rex, Navarang , Parimala, Poornima, Mukunda, RadhaKrishna, Sri Venkateshwara, Vaibhav and Vijay
BANGALOREONE CENTRES
Airport Road: I floor, Bescom office. 22955440/41. Banashankari: I floor, BDA Shopping Complex, Banashankari 2nd Stage. 22955460/61 HBR Layout: I floor, BDA Shopping Complex, HBR Layout 1st Stage, 2nd block. 22955435/36 Jayanagar: BBMP Shopping Complex, 9th Cross, 9th Main, Jayanagar 2nd Block. 22955450. JP Nagar: Ground floor, Bescom office, 14th cross, JP Nagar 1st Phase. 22955455/56. Kalasipalya: I floor, BSNL office building, AM Road. 22955465/66 Malleswaram: BWSSB office compound, Malleswaram 18th cross: 22955415/16 Nagarabhavi: I floor, BDA Shopping Complex, Nagarabhavi 2nd Stage, 3rd Block. 22729324 Rajajinagar: I floor, BMP complex, Rajajinagar, 2nd Block. 22955410/11 RT Nagar: City Central Library, East Zone, RT Nagar 1st Main Road. 22955425/26 Shantinagar: I floor, Divya Shree Chambers. 22955445/46 Sriramapuram: BMP office, Ward No. 24, Bhashyam Nagar, behind Srirampura police station. 22955475 Tannery Road: E-1 sub-division, Bescom office, 9th Main, 3rd Stage, Pillana Garden. 22955430/31 Vijayanagar: Ground floor, BDA Shopping Complex, Magadi Road-Chord Road junction. 22955405/06 Yeshwantapur: BMP complex, RTO building, Triveni Road. 22955420 Infosys campus: Electronic City, Hosur Road. 22955480

The City's vanishing glory

The City's vanishing glory
Nina C George
With Kannan building being next in the line of heritage buildings on M G Road that have gone under the bulldozer, Metrolife spoke to a cross-section of Bangaloreans who came up with varied responses, reflecting the mosaic that the City is.


Another heritage landmark is all set to be obliterated off the City's face. Kannan Building of vintage 1910, on M G Road that houses The Lakeview, G K Vale, S P Surya, Lawrence and Mayo and Jamals will soon be history with a monstrous, swanky, modern multi-storey shopping complex set to take its place.

The modern look

The erstwhile South Parade, or Mahatma Gandhi Road as it is known today, till recently showcased the melting pot that the City's history has been.

Traditional buildings rubbed eaves with ritzy, modern structures with an unheard of ease. However, the balance has clearly tilted towards the modern. What was once a shopping promenade haunted by shoppers has categorically taken an upmarket turn.

With Kannan building being next in the line of heritage buildings on M G Road that have gone under the bulldozer, Metrolife spoke to a cross-section of Bangaloreans who came up with varied responses, reflecting the mosaic that the City is.

Some feel that new structures must not altogether displace old colonial structures in the City. One can recreate, modify or reinforce the existing structures. Heritage buildings must not be pulled down. But there are several who believe that change is what life is all about. It's high time to move on without being encumbered by baggages of any kind.

Justice M F Saldanha, who moved into the City from Mumbai in 1994, feels that the City should go all out to retain its heritage structures. If need be, he says, the existing heritage structures could be renovated, recreated and modified and put to greater use. This would give it a modern look and yet retain its old charm.

Why shouldn't shopping complexes underground, asks Koshy Mathew, a communications consultant. If rails can go underground so can shopping malls, he reasons. He thinks tall glass structures are an eye sore and aren't environment friendly. “Unlike in England, we neither have a sense of heritage nor do we have academic centres dedicated to preserving the heritage of the City,” he points out.

Whatever comes up in the place of Kannan building, the facade appearance would be the same as the existing structure, assures V K Surendra, owner of the 30,000-odd sq ft plot on which the vintage building tands. The front will not be a glass structure and the colonial charm would be retained.

“The existing commercial establishments will come back to occupy new space at highly discounted rents. The new tructure will have ground plus two floors. It will also have an underground car park. An automobile showroom is also likely to come up here," Surendra discloses. There are those who argue that change is inexorable.

Clinging to the past does not aid progress. “Bangalore is one among the fastest growing cities in the world in terms of services, cuisine and fashion. We have to change with time and keep pace with development," says Prem Koshy, owner of the Koshys Restaurant on St Marks’s Road.

Freelance press photographer T L Ramaswamy who has chronicled M G Road in all its sepia hues, says since the builder has promised that the frontage of the Kannan building will not be changed it might not make much of a difference.

Shops located in Kannan building have all packed up and are ready to leave. Although they will be coming back in two years' time, they know nothing will be the same again.

The Lakeview is not only a landmark also a regular hangout for people like Rachana Vasudev who runs a boutique in Ganjam. She says the City doesn't need another shopping mall. The old charm of this City must be retained. "Combining heritage buildings with glass structures is ridiculous. We will neither be here not there," she says.

Legislation a must

There have been consistent efforts from several heritage centres in the City to protect heritage structures. The Bangalore Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has been trying to get the government to pass a legislation to preserve the heritage of the City.

“There’s no legislation or a legal tool which we can use to preserve heritage. We have submitted a report in this regard to the government but they seem callous about it,” says Prathibha H R, convener of INTACH, Bangalore Chapter. She says that unless a legislation is in place, heritage buildings, located in prime locations in the City will disappear, leaving nothing for posterity.

This road is an ode to an elephant

This road is an ode to an elephant
Michael Patrao, Deccan Herald
The Elephant Rock Road begins from the South End Circle at one end where it meets R V Road to Jayanagar III Block on the other end where it meet the ninth main road, Jayanagar III Block.

The road is hardly half a kilometre, but it links several arterial roads and therefore this two-way road is traffic intense.
Once upon a time, thus goes a local legend, when Bangalore was just a mere forest, the air-borne goddess Patalamma Devi, riding on a flying elephant, descended on a serene spot which is now the South of Bangalore. After resting for a while, she ascended into the sky but left behind the elephant which was her vahana or vehicle.
Today the vahana (vehicle) is manifested in the form of a giant boulder in the shape of an elephant. It came to be known as Anebande or elephant rock and the road which passes along it came to be known as Anebande Road or Elephant Rock Road.
About 35 years ago, the outline of an elephant was drawn on the rock and people began to worship it. There are smaller rocks around the big rock as if they are a herd of elephants. Graffiti has been painted on two of the rocks spoiling the beauty of the rocks. After the formation of Jayanagar extension in 1948, this piece of land with rocks attracted many builders. According to local lore two engineers who attempted to remove the cluster of rocks died, as if giving out a warning not to meddle with a divine spot.
There is a small Varasiddhi Bhavani Shankar temple below the rocks which according to an inscription says that it was inaugurated by Shantaveera Mahaswamiji on November 6, 1994. Lakshmamma, a caretaker of the temple says, “Bangaramma, a former corporator of Jayanagar took the initiative to build this shrine to stop all illegal activities at the spot.”
There is a temple dedicated to Patalamma, which is the village deity of five villages around Jayanagar — Nagasandra, Kanakanapalya, Siddapura, Byrasandra and Yediyur. Sixty-year-old Pilla Krishnappa the hereditary temple priest of Patalamma temple says, “this temple has an antiquity of about 500 to 600 years. My father Taiyappa Muniyappa was a priest here as was my grandfather Pillappa. Once in three years there is a fire-sacrifice at this temple. The last one took place on May 23 this year.” The temple is managed by a Trust. Devotees come to this temple particularly on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Close to the temple are two long pillars with another stone joining them at the top with iron hooks. This is the swing on which the goddess Patalamma used to play or so the legend says. Today it is used on ceremonial occasions. Close to Patalamma temple is another small temple dedicated to Mahaganapathi. Another religious place on this road is the Sri Bhagwan 1008 Adinathswamy Digambar Jinamandira, housed in a modern building.
One of the older building on this road is the Southern Range of City Central Library founded in 1969. The Chamaraju Kalyana Mantap is a popular wedding hall in one of the cross roads.
Until recently it was largely a tree-lined residential area, but in recent times a few commercial establishments have come up such as Viveks (consumer durables retailer), Odyssey (books, music, cards,gifts, toys, stationery and multimedia retailer), Spencer’s Daily, health services like Fitness One, First Health (a multi-speciality clinic), financial service like ICICI Bank, HSBC Bank and ATMs and IT firms like Object Win and Navini Networks. There is a business boutique hotel called, The President, with speciality restaurants.

This ones totally different

This ones totally different
Deccan Herald

With new malls mushrooming all over the City, theres one more to add to the list. Total mall opened its doors last week at Madivala. But what helps Total stand out from the other malls, is its unique concept.

Total is divided into two segments — the brands and the hypermarket.
The ground floor is filled with brands, 21 as of now including Mc Donalds, Coffee Day, Spykar, Reebok and much more. But the second and third floor house the hypermarket. These floors are filled with in house brands, thereby making the products cheaper.
The hypermarket is something similar to a Big Bazaar — only in house brands and low prices. Clothes, toys, gift items and furniture is available at the hypermarket. The electronics section houses all the top brands at reasonable prices. There is a huge food market as well. This is impressively large with a fresh vegetables and sea food section. The mall has tied up with farms and fishermen to ensure fresh produce. The sea food section also has live aquariums with fish and crabs, for those of you who want your food absolutely fresh.
They also have their own bakery and a take away restaurant called the ‘Garma garam’. The mall claims this will serve up food that tastes home made and the prices are easy on the wallet too. But the takeaway counter is not the only place where you can get food. Though as of now, the mall houses only cafes, it will soon have an entire floor dedicated to food and a kids gaming area. Apart from that they will have around four floors of only restaurants and lounge bars. Total will soon also house the City’s first Oxygen bar, ‘Ozone Spa’.
There’s ample parking space. The interesting part however, is that the parking is, at least as of now, free of charge. Total has a few other features including travellators so for those who hate the escalators but don’t want to take the stairs, this is a great option.
Another great feature about the mall are the billing counters. There are 24 billing counters in the hypermarket alone and of course the stores on the ground floor have their own billing. So hopefully, shopping at Total will mean no more long, tiring queues to get your purchases billed. The mall isn’t complete but new stores are coming up everyday and it should be complete within the next few months.

Lower noise levels auto-matically

Lower noise levels auto-matically
S Lalitha
Bangaloreans allergic to the tremendous noise levels on the City roads caused by autos can hope for lower decibel levels in future, thanks to new equipment introduced recently at all the ten regional transport offices..

Bangaloreans allergic to the tremendous noise levels on the City roads caused by autos can hope for lower decibel levels in future, thanks to new equipment introduced recently at all the ten regional transport offices (RTOs).

This handy device goes by the name of ‘Sound level meter’ and this fool-proof device has been bought from Hyderabad. It is being used by motor vehicle inspectors at a few RTOs the past two weeks before issuing fitness certificates for three-wheelers and four-wheelers.

Yeshwantpur has begun tests on autos and heavy vehicles using this equipment. N Eshwar, motor vehicle inspector at Yeshwantpur RTO, said, “ All that we have to do is to hold it in our hand when the vehicle is started. Autorickshaws that cross 85 decibels are not issued the fitness certificate.”

This certificate has to be mandatorily reviewed once a year by autos if they want to ply on the streets. The usage of a an equipment is permitted as per the provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 but it is being introduced only now.

“The noise level being checked is the overall noise produced by an auto and not just the sound made by honking. An auto when being driven is capable of producing noise levels equivalent to four to five buses since it has an air-cooled, two-stroke engine,” the inspector added.

On an average, 65 fitness certificates were issued by this RTO on a daily basis earlier. Following the introduction of the equipment, it has come down to 40 FCs a day, he said. “Judgment regarding noise levels was made only by human sense but this device has made our judgment professional,” he added. “This is a major step to control noise levels taken by the department,” said Yeshwantpur Regional Transport Officer C T Murthy.

Sukumar an autorickshaw driver who came for the certificate was rejected an FC due to the noise levels emanating from his vehicle, thanks to this equipment.

Elaborating on the equipment, RTO, Jayanagar, Syed Shafi Ahmed said, “We find it very useful. We used to tell autorickshaw drivers earlier that the vehicle was emitting noise but now we can show them how noisy it is with proof on our hands. It can be compared to a thermometer which is used to assess the exact temperature of patients.”

We have also requested the government to give us a printer. “When it comes to enforcement or court-related matters, any printed matter will be useful as evidence,” he added.

Indiranagar RTO Krishna Reddy said, “We have the equipment but are not using it right now since our officers have not yet been trained on its usage. The training is expected to take place shortly and once it is through, we will start using it.”

Super corrupt government penalising me, says Kheny

Super corrupt government penalising me, says Kheny
DH News Service, Bangalore:
Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise on Saturday slammed the Karnataka Governments move to consider a proposal from an international consortium to develop the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor.

The company termed the reported consortium as “bogus” and said the move was part of a “super-corrupt” government’s efforts to distract attention from a court contempt hearing against the government that’s coming up on Monday.
No company
“Global Infrastructure is the name they’ve given for the consortium... there’s no such company registered. In fact, members who the government claims are part of the consortium have already written to us saying that their names have been fraudulently used by SKIL” Ashok Kheny, MD, NICE told Deccan Herald. The State, by filing an additional affidavit, has informed the Supreme Court that it had received a suo moto proposal from a consortium, the net worth of which runs over Rs 10 lakh crore.
Contempt case
The company has filed a contempt case against seven senior State Government officers, including Chief Secretary P B Mahishi and Revenue Secretary S M Jaamdar. The hearing of the case will come up on Monday. Reacting to the consortium’s offer to develop a Rs 1,700-crore monorail link, Kheny said NICE had already made an offer to the government to develop a monorail at around Rs 8,000 crore.
“Where’s the sanctity of the original agreement? This super-corrupt government is penalising someone because he has only refused to pay bribes,” he said.

Palike yet to clear 309 storm water drains

Palike yet to clear 309 storm water drains
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike faces a daunting task of clearing encroachments on storm-water drains across the City, which it says are the root cause of rain water flooding and overflowing.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike faces a daunting task of clearing encroachments on storm-water drains across the City, which it says are the root cause of rain water flooding and overflowing.
BBMP sources told Deccan Herald a whopping 468 encroachments had been identified across the four valley’s in the City.

“We’ve divided remodelling into 15 packages under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The number of encroachments removed so far is 159. The BBMP still has to remove/clear 309 more of these encroachments. A survey of them is in progress. Action would be initiated shortly,” officials said on condition of anonymity.

Drive
With flooding of many low-lying areas owing to rains, the BBMP has begun a drive with the recent demolition of an illegal encroachment at Kempegowda Nagar, near Chamarajapet, where a building was constructed adjacent to the SWD wall in gross violation of building bye-laws, they said.

“This is just the tip of the ice-berg. About 50 per cent of new constructions identified by us in Bangalore are built by the side or even over the SWD. A notice would be served on the owners, after which we would initiate steps to remove the encroached parts. There are instances where political interference or lobbying by builders/developers has delayed recovering land. The police have also refused to register an FIR on those who have violated norms and encroached on SWDs. The legal process is also time-consuming,” they added.
The officials note that flooding in low-lying areas is also a result of layouts planned and built on dried-up lake/tank beds.

‘Our hands tied’
“We can definitely minimise damage and prevent excess overflow during incessant rains. But our hands are tied. Social and political problems also come in the way. At Nayandahalli on Mysore Road, 24 properties have been issued notices by the Deputy Commissioner (Bangalore Urban) for encroachments. We are taking steps to remove them. Officials from bureaucrats to engineers are willing to execute work, desilt and widen the drain (Rajakaluve) on international standards. But where is the land?” asks a BBMP official.

Though SWDs are designed for a certain capacity to facilitate free flow of rain water, sewage water and animal carcass continue to flow throughout the year.

Hampers
“Some SWDs have been encroached by land grabbers who have dumped truckloads of mud and constructed buildings. This hampers the very purpose of the SWDs,” says another official.

RS 650 CRORE EXERCISE
Remodelling of SWDs envisages redesigning, desilting, widening and reconstruction of existing ‘Rajakaluve’ (primary drain of SWDs) under the JNNURM at a cost of Rs 650 crore. The four valleys scheduled for remodelling during 2007-08 are Koramangala, Challaghatta, Hebbal and Vrishabhavathi.
STUP Consultants, a Paris-based architectural firm with offices across the world, has been entrusted by BBMP to offer consultancy on the remodelling.

KEY NUMBERS
*Rs 650 crore allocated under JNNURM for
remodelling
*Rs 170 crore already spent in old BMP areas
*250 km of SWDs in City to be remodelled
*10 per cent of property tax collected by BBMP to be
diverted to SWD cess

Day two: No respite yet at Public Utility building

Day two: No respite yet at Public Utility building
DH News Service, Bangalore:
A day after a fire gutted around six shops on the first floor of the Public Utility Building on M G Road, it was time to look ahead for many of the shop-owners in the building.

A day after a fire gutted around six shops on the first floor of the Public Utility Building on M G Road, it was time to look ahead for many of the shop-owners in the building. Only, there was no respite yet, because the building is still grappling with the fire’s aftermath.

For starters, the power supply is yet to be restored. “The affected shop-owners are still shifting their goods and are also conducting checks on electric wires... power supply will be normal only by around Monday,” said Narayan, who runs a shop on the ground floor of the building.

The disrupted power supply means that shop-owners would miss out on the weekend shopping rush. “It’s going to be a loss for those shops that were not affected by the fire, but we don’t have a choice... moreover, our losses are minimal compared to what has happened to those directly hit by the fire,” Harish, an employee in a garment store in the building, said.

Goods damaged
The ground and first floors of the commercial block house around 56 shops. Though the fire had broken out only in a pocket of the first floor, goods in many shops — especially those selling clothes — have also been damaged due to the water sprayed in by the fire tenders. On Friday, a couple of shop-owners were seen taking out goods that withstood the fire to their godowns.

A few shops, including the Karnataka silk showroom, functioned on Friday with emergency lamps. The first floor, dark and still stinking of burnt clothes, wore a deserted look on Friday. While the affected shop-owners are busy counting their losses and possible insurance returns, they are also expecting a final report on the cause of the fire.

'Infrastructure is missing in B'lore'

'Infrastructure is missing in B'lore'
DH News Service, Bangalore:
While Bangalore has gained fame for rapid strides in the software sector and is home to the most prestigious of institutes in the Science and Defence sectors, its utilisation for betterment of Bangalore in providing infrastructure is missing.


A broad consensus on including the needs of all sections of society and striking a balance between various interest groups emerged at a round table discussion on ‘Setting up a Metropolitan Planning Committee for Bangalore,’ organised by CIVIC Bangalore on Saturday.

The discussion was presided by heads of various civic agencies, civil society groups and elected representatives.

Calling for the effective utilisation of intellectual capital that the City is known for, Prof B K Chandrashekhar, Chairperson, Karnataka Legislative Council said, while Bangalore has gained fame for rapid strides in the software sector and is home to the most prestigious of institutes in the Science and Defence sectors, its utilisation for betterment of Bangalore in providing infrastructure is missing.

“As member of the City Urban Management Committee, a decade ago we had proposed vehicle free zones in the central areas of Bangalore,” Mr Chandrashekhar suggested.

Delivering the chairperson’s address, Dr A Ravindra, Deputy Chairperson, Karnataka State Planning Commission said emphasis on the metropolitan planning committee should focus on its composition and planning.

BDA Commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda said, a need to nurture ‘Brand Bangalore’ is necessary. “The City is second to Tokyo in the world when it comes to growth in commercial space.

New pastures for IT

New pastures for IT
By P M Raghunandan, DH News Service, Bangalore:
Bangalore Development Authority's (BDA) Master Plan-2015 has earmarked 12,866 acres of land for information technology sector use.


IT sector jostling for space in the technology hub, can now heave a sigh of relief. Bangalore Development Authority’s (BDA) Master Plan-2015 has earmarked 12,866 acres of land for information technology sector use.

This mainly covers Whitefield, Varthur, Begur, Electronic City and Anjanapura (in south and south-eastern part) and Kengeri (in Western part) Planning Districts. Electronic City and Whitefield will be especially developed as IT dominant zones under the plan.

Planning districts (PDs) are boundaries drawn up by BDA based on the development trends in its jurisdiction. BDA has carved the Bangalore metropolitan region into 47 PDs. Further, these PDs are categories into three -- core area, urban area and urban extension area.

In fact, the master plan, which was recently approved by the Government, has for the first time introduced “hi-tech” as a land use category. Hitherto, hitech was treated as a part of industrial sector.

Apart from more space, the plan has recommended a series of steps to support and promote IT development in these areas like high-speed roads for good connectivity and housing.

Besides, the master has made provision to spread IT activities, now confined to south Bangalore, to other parts of Bangalore as well. It has proposed to develop a 1,025 acre IT corridor on the western side (along Magadi road) in Kengeri PD. The plan has also earmarked land in Byatarayanapura (46 hectares), Bavalakere (46 hectares) and Horamavu (70 hectares) for hitech use.

“We want to extend IT activities in the western part of Bangalore by developing an IT corridor on Magadi road. This is to ease the burden on the south and to balance the city’s growth, BDA Commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda said.

Taking note of the crying need for upgradation of infrastructure in the IT belt of Whitefield and Electronic City, BDA’s master plan has analysed the problem in each of these PDs and recommended solutions to be implemented by either the local body or the local planning authority.

To address transportation and housing problems, BDA has planned to make use of adjacent areas. For instance, Anjanapura and Sadar Mangala PDs (which are located next to Electronic City and Whitefield respectively) have been planned to be used as transportation (logistic) hubs to support IT sector.

Besides, residential, mainly mixed, land use is also allowed to promote work-live-play concept. In fact, for this reason for BDA has decided to take up mega housing projects in both south (along Varthur Road to Sarjapura Road and Hosur Road) and west (between Mysore Road and Magadi Road) in Bangalore.

As many as 96,000 residential housing units and 11,560 sites will be developed in the south, while 48,000 housing units and 16,200 sites will be developed in the west by the BDA in the coming days. The master plan has also made provisions for commercial activities in these areas.

So, it has permitted mutation corridor and commercial axis status with additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR) on majority of the main roads.


MASTER PLAN FOR HITECH PDs

Whitefield

*970 hectares of total 3,630 hectares for hitech use

*Promoting the PD as hitech zone

*Promoting Sardar Mangala as transport logistic hub

*Designating Varthur, ORR, ITPL Whitefield, Whitefield, Hudi and Bhattacharyya roads as mutation corridors

*Designating Marathahalli and Channappahalli, Ashwathnagar as residential main

*Designating Hoskote Main Road as mutation corridor

*Organising traffic on Varthur road and OOR junction

Varthur

*547 hectares of total 4,264 for hitech use

*Promoting conditions necessary for IT activities

*Designating Bhoganahalli as hitech zone

*Promoting villages are mixed residential

*Protect ing valleys and tanks

Begur


*547 hectares of total 4,264 for hitech use

*Designating hitech corridor to be developed by BDA

*Designating major part of the area as mixed residential

*Designating Sarjapur, ORR and Hosur roads are mutation corridors

Electronic city

*1,461 hectares of total 2,473 for hitech use

*Developing IT dominant zone around Electronic City on both sides of Hosur road

*Promoting IT by offering state-of-the-art facilities in terms of infrastructure

*Organising new layouts coming up adjacent to IT areas

*Consider developing intersection between Hosur Road and proposed peripheral road as
transportation Interchange hub

Kengeri

*376 hectares of total 7,296 for hitech use

*An IT park to be developed

*BDA to take up mega residential housing projects

*Protecting greenery

*Integrating Kengeri bus stand with railway station

*Link Uttarahalli road, Nagarabhavi road and Kanakapura road

(Note: Only PDs where vast extent of land is
allowed for hitech use are taken into consideration)

THE EXPERTS SAY...

It is favourable to IT sector provided the earmarked land is used for IT alone. It should not be used for any other purpose. The land should be allotted to actual IT companies otherwise it will be real estate business, as usual.
In the name of IT, lots of other projects are being sanctioned. It should not be done.

T V Mohan Das Pai,
Infosys Director (HRD)

It is a welcome move. The State government has not given an inch of land for several years now.
There is no space at all anywhere. If the BDA Master Plan 2015 has proposed to allot over 12,000 acres for IT sector, it is good.

Venkat Kedlaya,
MD Convergent Communication

It is really good. If the government does not provide land, companies will move out. IT companies loss is the State’s loss. The land demarketed should be used for IT sector only. I also welcome BDA’s move to extend IT activities in western B’lore. This part basically has residential areas, while south and east parts are IT dominant. It needs to be balanced.

Ananth Koppar,
Chairman and CEO, K2 Technology

What one must understand is it is not allotment. The government has only earmarked certain amount of land for hitech use. In other words, this land is basically private land and the permission is given for hitech land use. Of course, it is good.

The State government must ensure that this land is used for only hitech purposes. Besides, the government should provide necessary infrastructure.

Jayakar Jerome,
former BDA commissioner

Rallies, rain choke City roads

Rallies, rain choke City roads
DH News Service, Bangalore:

The central business districts of the City were gridlocked on Saturday, thanks to rallies and and protests by various organisations, rains and the onset of the weekend!
The traffic snarls which began in the late morning hours coalesced into a logjam as the day progressed, lasting till evening in several areas. The first protest was by the City Youth Congress which staged a rally at Hudson Circle demanding BBMP measures to remove silt in various tanks. This led to Vehicles virtually grinding to a halt on Seshadri Road linking Anand Rao Circle with K R Circle.
Meanwhile, another protest was on near the Mahatma Gandhi statue. A huge rally by the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) sought stern action against industrialists of other states who have set up units in Karnataka at the cost of local industry. The 1,000-member strong rally began at Richmond Circle and culminated at the Mahatma Gandhi statue. With several autorickshaws joining the rally, it was virtual chaos on all roads in the vicinity.
Traffic clogged the Cubbon Road stretch from Minsk Square to Mahatma Gandhi statue. Police, in the meantime, sought to restrict traffic on MG Road, Kasturba Road and Queens Road. By afternoon, vehicle movement was hit on Brigade Road, Airport Road, Richmond Road, Residency Road and Cubbon Road.
The bumper-to-bumper crawl meant that people had to remain frozen in their vehicles.
Before the murmurs of curses from the stranded public could become a torrent, the skies opened up, cooling frayed tempers. But the elements spread the chaos further across the City and roads as far as Silver Jubilee Road near City Market and in Madivala were now clogged with traffic wading through water-logged roads.
As the situation eased and rains abated, there was one last gush of chaos as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee organised a `Raj Bhavan chalo’ in protest against the failures of the State government.
Traffic police said they did their best to avoid the congestion. They diverted traffic on several routes in the backdrop of the protests. They pressed in more personnel to decongest the hold-ups.
Late in evening, normalcy was back on the roads. Another weekend had a belated beginning.

Karnataka seeks SC nod to chuck out NICE

Karnataka seeks SC nod to chuck out NICE
From Pratap K Patnaik, DH News Service, New Delhi:
The Government of Karnataka has approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to throw the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) out of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP).

The govt wants to hand over the contract to a new consortium of Indo-US companies for the timely completion of the project.
The additional affidavit filed by Karnataka government said, “The $250 billion Global Infrastructure Consortium (GIC) has put forth a proposal indicating that it would accept the terms and conditions of the framework agreement of April 3, 1997 signed between Karnataka and NICE and would pay the cost of existing infrastructure as evaluated by an independent agency while taking over the project on as-is-where-is-basis.”
The consortium has proposed to construct a monorail on a 16-km stretch of the peripheral road at a cost of Rs 17,000 crore for the benefit of the public without any additional burden on the State, the application said pleading for the new consortium.
Unlike the NICE, the new consortium has agreed to return the entire 6,999 acres of land earmarked for the toll road under the framework agreement as per the project conceived originally and has also undertaken to return to the government the land which would not be required, Karnataka said, seeking the dismissal of the petition of the NICE.
“The averments made and various grounds raised by the petitioner (NICE) in the present writ are devoid of any merit and may be dismissed,” said the affidavit filed on July 27, 2007.
The GIC has agreed to follow Swiss challenge approach by which it would pay penalty to the government at a rate of Rs 7 lakh per day if the project is not completed in seven years from the date of financial closure, said the affidavit filed by counsel Sanjay Hegde. The State alleged that NICE had obtained by fraudulent means the right to develop and sell additional 2,289 acres of land, and had reduced the quantum of land ought to be reverted back to the government after concession period is over from 14,255 acres to 11,966 acres.
Interim application
The government has already filed an interim application before the court to seek suitable modifications in the July 21, 2006 order to ensure safeguarding of the interests of the State and conduct a preliminary fact finding enquiry against officials allegedly involved in corrupt practices. It has also pleaded that the Justice B C Patel Commission of Inquiry be allowed to proceed with its probe.
The matter, which would come up for hearing on Monday, has been embroiled in litigation for 11 years now due to alleged involvement of politicians, officials and the project developers in corrupt practices. Squarely blaming some of its officials for being hand-in-glove with the NICE, the earlier petition said, “All along, the project company has been in conscious knowledge of its own wrongs and manipulations which it has carried out in collusion with State government officers and for so long has been able” to suppress the massive records of the State.
According to the framework agreement signed on April 5, 1997 between the Karnataka government and the developers, NICE had the right to saleable land of 5,937.3 acres in five townships which was worth Rs 31,250 crore at the lower spectrum of the present value, whereas the cost to construct the expressway, peripheral road and link road would be a maximum Rs 3,000 crore.
A NEW PLAYER MAKES ENTRY
New Delhi, dhns: The Global Infrastructure Consortium (GIC) claims to be a $250 billion conglomerate of companies from the United States and India. The consortium has been formed by Indus Capital, USA; New York Life Insurance Fund, USA; Urban Infrastructure Fund, Mumbai; Avenue Capital, USA; SKIL Infrastructure Limited, Mumbai and IREO Fund of the USA with its correspondence address at Air Conditioned Market, Mumbai. It has an office at Koramangala in Bangalore.
Lekhraj Jain, the authorised signatory for the GIC, has in a letter dated July 23, 2007 offered to take over the project. The proposal claims that the members of the GIC are companies having extensive experience in the development of infrastructure projects or companies who have ample exposure to infrastructure projects.
The members of the consortium have promoted several infrastructure projects inside and outside the country in key areas such as monorail, ports, shipyards, railways, roads, SEZs.

‘There’s no vision to develop Bangalore’

‘There’s no vision to develop Bangalore’
The Hindu

Merely increasing budgetary allocations will not do, says Krishna Byre Gowda

Bangalore: The HAL airport in Bangalore handled 8.1 million passengers last year and is expected to handle 11.6 million passengers this year, according to a reply given to Krishna Byre Gowda in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

In another report tabled in the House with reference to the international airport under construction at Devanahalli, the Government said the new airport has been designed to handle 8.4 million passengers and with expansion of certain facilities the airport could handle 11 million passengers by 2015. Further, the projection was that the number of passengers that the international airport would have to handle by 2015 would be around 11 million. In other words, the new airport at Devanahalli would handle an optimum number of passengers at the time it is opened for air traffic (April 2008).

Speaking on the demands of various departments, Mr. Krishna Byre Gowda said the State Government lacked vision in the development of Bangalore and that it would only be appropriate if the Government sought the advice of national or international consultants to decongest the city.

The member said life in Bangalore would come to a grinding halt if the Government did not work with a vision straightway. Merely increasing the budgetary allocations for various departments would not suffice. The Government had to seek advice and then implement a plethora of development schemes with vigour. As such, the Bangalore traffic police and officials of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike were overworked and there was no point in asking them to find ways of improving the living conditions in Bangalore.

Byappanahalli to be the third railway terminal in Bangalore

Byappanahalli to be the third railway terminal in Bangalore

Staff Correspondent

Railways considering a proposal to develop it as a ‘world class station’



BIG PLANS: South Western Railway General Manager Praveen Kumar addressing the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee meeting in Hubli.

HUBLI: Praveen Kumar, General Manager, South Western Railway, has said that the railway was considering developing Byappanhalli Railway Station in Bangalore as a third terminal for the area.

Chairing the fifth Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee Meeting here on Wednesday, Praveen Kumar said plans were afoot to develop Byappanahalli station as a “world class station” with all facilities.

He said that 15 stations were identified for modernisation during 2006-07 under “Touch and Feel” Project.

Similarly, 14 stations had been identified for modernisation during this fiscal (2007-08).

He said the South Western Railway was the fastest growing railway zone in the country registering a gross earning of Rs. 3,375.61 crore.
Projects

Mr. Praveen Kumar gave details of the ongoing projects that were due to be commissioned soon to the committee members.

They were the new lines from Bangalore to Nelamangala and Kottur to Harapanahalli, gauge conversion works on Mysore-Chamarajnagar sector, Gadag-Bagalkot, Shimoga-Anandpur lines, track doubling works on Yeshwantpur-Tumkur, Kengeri-Ramanagaram and Bayaluvaddageri-Hospet lines.
Suggestions

The committee members put forward several suggestions on the development of station buildings, passenger amenities, increasing the frequency of trains, augmentation of trains with additional coaches, diversion of trains and cleanliness.

Member of Parliament from Belgaum Suresh Angadi stressed the need for development of Belgaum station by providing additional booking counters, introduction of a new train from Hubli to Pune, to be called “Renuka Express”, and extending the Mysore-Dharwad Express Train till Belgaum.

Babulal Jain, member of the National Railway Users Consultative Committee, wanted the Hampi Express to be run as an independent train. He urged Mr. Praveen Kumar to take steps to run the Yeshwantpur-Jodhpur Summer Special Train as a regular train and run the Hubli-Chennai Express Train via Hospet and Guntakal. Byappanahalli to be the third railway terminal in Bangalore

Staff Correspondent

Railways considering a proposal to develop it as a ‘world class station’



BIG PLANS: South Western Railway General Manager Praveen Kumar addressing the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee meeting in Hubli.

HUBLI: Praveen Kumar, General Manager, South Western Railway, has said that the railway was considering developing Byappanhalli Railway Station in Bangalore as a third terminal for the area.

Chairing the fifth Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee Meeting here on Wednesday, Praveen Kumar said plans were afoot to develop Byappanahalli station as a “world class station” with all facilities.

He said that 15 stations were identified for modernisation during 2006-07 under “Touch and Feel” Project.

Similarly, 14 stations had been identified for modernisation during this fiscal (2007-08).

He said the South Western Railway was the fastest growing railway zone in the country registering a gross earning of Rs. 3,375.61 crore.
Projects

Mr. Praveen Kumar gave details of the ongoing projects that were due to be commissioned soon to the committee members.

They were the new lines from Bangalore to Nelamangala and Kottur to Harapanahalli, gauge conversion works on Mysore-Chamarajnagar sector, Gadag-Bagalkot, Shimoga-Anandpur lines, track doubling works on Yeshwantpur-Tumkur, Kengeri-Ramanagaram and Bayaluvaddageri-Hospet lines.
Suggestions

The committee members put forward several suggestions on the development of station buildings, passenger amenities, increasing the frequency of trains, augmentation of trains with additional coaches, diversion of trains and cleanliness.

Member of Parliament from Belgaum Suresh Angadi stressed the need for development of Belgaum station by providing additional booking counters, introduction of a new train from Hubli to Pune, to be called “Renuka Express”, and extending the Mysore-Dharwad Express Train till Belgaum.

Babulal Jain, member of the National Railway Users Consultative Committee, wanted the Hampi Express to be run as an independent train. He urged Mr. Praveen Kumar to take steps to run the Yeshwantpur-Jodhpur Summer Special Train as a regular train and run the Hubli-Chennai Express Train via Hospet and Guntakal.

30,000 acres encroached upon in Bangalore

30,000 acres encroached upon in Bangalore

The Hindu

Panel recommends prosecution of land grabbers and officials who connived with them

Names of offenders to be revealed in subsequent report

“Administrative machinery failed to take action”

BANGALORE: The Joint Committee of Legislature on Land Encroachment in Bangalore City/Urban District headed by A.T. Ramaswamy on Thursday tabled its second interim report in the Legislative Assembly detecting encroachment of about 30,000 acres of land belonging to different departments and statutory bodies in the district.

While the 130-page report (with annexures) presents a picture of the extent of encroached land and the ways in which this has occurred, it stops short of naming the offenders. It does promise to provide these names in a subsequent report.

The committee comprised 12 MLAs and five MLCs and a host of senior officers. The Joint Legislature Committee on encroachments in Bangalore Urban district, in its interim report (part two), has recommended “certain basic and long lasting” measures, including criminal prosecution of land grabbers, persons who abet such activities and the officials concerned who connived with them, for preventing encroachments in future. The report was tabled in the Legislative Council on Thursday by the committee member “Mukhyamantri” Chandru, and by its chairman A.T. Ramaswamy in the Legislative Assembly. It has recommended prosecution of offenders under the existing provisions of the IPC, the recently amended Land Revenue Act, and the “Goonda Act”.

The committee said there was a dire need to attend to “certain basic matters” on priority if the issue of land grabbing had to be regulated effectively. For instance, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike reported that a 60’x40’ residential plot in the vicinity of Jayanagar Shopping Complex was auctioned at Rs. 22,000 a square foot. The price of that plot, when converted, would be Rs. 96 crore an acre. The land value on the outskirts and suburban areas of Bangalore was estimated at Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 4 crore an acre.

There were some reported instances of “daylight murders” of people related to real estate business in Bangalore city in March 2007.

In the light of the expansion of the area of BBMP from 250 sq km to 790 sq km encompassing seven city municipal councils and a town municipal council, the land grabbing activities were bound to increase manifold. Therefore, it was necessary to find “basic solutions” to regulate “this menace” effectively, the committee said.

Referring to its first interim report, the committee said: “The administrative machinery has utterly failed to take action against the land grabbers and their official abettors and promoters.”

Government blamed for delay in the execution of infrastructure projects

Government blamed for delay in the execution of infrastructure projects

The Hindu

BANGALORE: K. Chandrashekar and N.L. Narendrababu of Congress on Friday lashed out at the Government for its failure to expedite work on infrastructure projects taken up under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM) in Bangalore city.

Speaking on demands for grants of various departments in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Chandrashekar said the Government had decided to execute 11 infrastructure projects in the city under JNURM but not one project report has been prepared so far.

‘Name International airport after Kempegowda’

‘Name International airport after Kempegowda’
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Niranthara Jana Jagruthi Vedike urged the state government to name the International Airport coming up at Devanahalli after Kempegowda.

A spokesman from the Vedike said, a memorandum was signed by nearly 150 MLAs and MLCs requesting to name the international airport after Kempegowda.

‘‘The Vedike has not received any response from the government yet. If we do not receive any response from the government in 15 days, the Vedike will take its own course of action,’’ they said.

Kheny calls consortium fake

Kheny calls consortium fake
Sunday July 29 2007 11:38 IST

BANGALORE: NICE managing director Ashok Kheny on Saturday said the USbased consortium which offered to implement the BMIC project was ‘‘fake and no such company existed in the US’’.

Reacting to an additional affidavit filed by the State government before the Supreme Court on Friday, Kheny alleged that it was an effort by the Government to mislead the Court. ‘‘I checked with my contacts in the US. No such company exists. The consortium’s Mumbai office is situated in a chartered accountant’s office,’’ he said.

Kheny said he had ample evidence to prove that the consortium was fake and alleged that some persons were made the members of the consortium without their knowledge. ‘‘I have spoken to them also,’’ he claimed.

Kheny also claimed that chairman of SKIL, the promoter of Nandagudi SEZ Nikhil Gandhi was a member of the consortium. ‘‘Anybody can guess the intentions of the government by this,’’ he said. On the new consortium’s proposal to construct a Rs 1,700 crore monorail, Kheny said he had offered the government to build Rs 8,000 crore monorail at no cost to the State, if he was allowed to complete the BMIC project. But the government did not respond to the proposal, he added.

On delay on executing the project, he blamed the government for not giving the required land. ‘‘I would finish the entire project in two years, if they give me land,’’ he claimed.

‘‘Why wait for eight years for the new consortium to complete the project? I will finish it in two years,’’ he said. With regard to ‘Swiss Challenge Approach,’ Kheny said the approach cannot be applicable to on-going projects. It was for only new projects. ‘‘If government takes over my project under the Swiss Challenge Approach, I would also move similar proposal with regard to Devanahalli International Airport. Will the government give me the project?’’ he asked.

State government gives new twist to BMIC row

State government gives new twist to BMIC row
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The ongoing spat between the State government and the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) on Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) has taken a new turn with the government filing an additional affidavit before the Supreme Court, claiming that a US-based consortium has made a suo motu proposal to implement the project.

The affidavit, however, does not mention the name of the consortium that has come forward to take up the BMIC project.

‘‘The name has not been made public as they are yet to take part in the global tender,’’ sources in the government said.

In an affidavit filed by the government before the Supreme Court by senior counsel Sanjay Hegde on Saturday, the government stated that the consortium with a net worth of $250 billion has offered add-ons like construction of monorail between Electronics City and the Devanahalli International Airport at an estimated Rs 1,700 crore without any extra burden to the exchequer.

Besides they have also offered to return the excess land at the time of taking over the project.

‘‘The government could get at least Rs 30,000 crore from the lands returned by the new consortium,’’ said a release quoting the affidavit on Friday.

‘‘Unlike the petitioner company (NICE), the new consortium has proposed self-imposed penalties by undertaking to achieve financial closure within 18 months of signing the agreement and receiving relevant approvals and to pay a penalty of Rs 3 lakh a day for delay in starting the project,’’ the release said.

The consortium also offered to complete the project in seven years besides offering to pay Rs 5 lakh penalty a day if there was a delay in completion.

The government also alleged in the affidavit that NICE was ‘‘only interested in profiteering from the illegal sale of land in toll road instead of completing the project’’.

The affidavit further said that the government was within its right to invite private investment according to the new infrastructure policy to expedite pending projects under the Swiss Challenge Approach provision, where private investors are allowed make open bidding that could benefit the State.

It said the government was within its right to exercise its contractual rights and claimed NICE could not use writ jurisdiction or contempt jurisdiction to enforce questionable contractual rights.State government gives new twist to BMIC row
Sunday July 29 2007 11:36 IST

BANGALORE: The ongoing spat between the State government and the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) on Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) has taken a new turn with the government filing an additional affidavit before the Supreme Court, claiming that a US-based consortium has made a suo motu proposal to implement the project.

The affidavit, however, does not mention the name of the consortium that has come forward to take up the BMIC project.

‘‘The name has not been made public as they are yet to take part in the global tender,’’ sources in the government said.

In an affidavit filed by the government before the Supreme Court by senior counsel Sanjay Hegde on Saturday, the government stated that the consortium with a net worth of $250 billion has offered add-ons like construction of monorail between Electronics City and the Devanahalli International Airport at an estimated Rs 1,700 crore without any extra burden to the exchequer.

Besides they have also offered to return the excess land at the time of taking over the project.

‘‘The government could get at least Rs 30,000 crore from the lands returned by the new consortium,’’ said a release quoting the affidavit on Friday.

‘‘Unlike the petitioner company (NICE), the new consortium has proposed self-imposed penalties by undertaking to achieve financial closure within 18 months of signing the agreement and receiving relevant approvals and to pay a penalty of Rs 3 lakh a day for delay in starting the project,’’ the release said.

The consortium also offered to complete the project in seven years besides offering to pay Rs 5 lakh penalty a day if there was a delay in completion.

The government also alleged in the affidavit that NICE was ‘‘only interested in profiteering from the illegal sale of land in toll road instead of completing the project’’.

The affidavit further said that the government was within its right to invite private investment according to the new infrastructure policy to expedite pending projects under the Swiss Challenge Approach provision, where private investors are allowed make open bidding that could benefit the State.

It said the government was within its right to exercise its contractual rights and claimed NICE could not use writ jurisdiction or contempt jurisdiction to enforce questionable contractual rights.