Many BBMP projects to be unveiled today

Many BBMP projects to be unveiled today

Staff Reporter

Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy to launch development works worth Rs. 360 crore

Official says adequate funds have been allocated for the projects

Kumaraswamy to unveil 15 projects

BANGALORE: Unmindful of the volatile political developments and their repercussions in the coming days, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is getting a host of development projects unveiled by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday.

Though the agenda is to get projects worth more than Rs. 360 crore unveiled by the Chief Minister, the foundation stone will be laid only for projects worth Rs. 40 crore. The Chief Minister will unveil separate granite plaques for each of the projects.

The projects include an underpass at the Nagavara-Ring Road junction (Rs. 26.72 crore), upgradation of raja kaluves in Puttenahalli and Nayandahalli (Rs. 33 crore), widening of Bellary, Palace, Sheshadri, Race Course and Kasturba Road (Rs. 27 crore), upgradation of roads, pavements and other works in each of the five new zones (Rs. 275 crore to Rs. 55 crore for each zone) and concreting of some roads in Chamarajpet (Rs. 2.5 crore).

BBMP Commissioner S. Subramanya told The Hindu on Monday that the Chief Minister would unveil a total of 15 projects and install the foundation for them. “Though Rs. 55 crore has been set aside for the overall development of each of the five new zones, initially we are taking up two major works in each zone,” he said.

BBMP Deputy Commissioner (Development) K.R. Srinivas said all these works were budgeted and had adequate allocation of funds. “The State Government had allocated Rs. 30 crore for the development of each of the five new zones. The remaining works were included in the BBMP budget,” he said.
Mad scramble

However, sources in the BBMP told The Hindu that the top officials literally scrambled for the works to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister.

“With the Chief Minister likely to resign from his post in a day or two, we wanted him to install the foundation stone for our new projects. Though we also wanted him to inaugurate completed projects, there is nothing that falls in this category,” the sources said.
Programme of works

Though the BBMP presented a budget of Rs. 3,312 crore in March, the annual programme of works is yet to be prepared. In the past when the BMP Council existed, individual corporators prepared the list of works that needed to be taken up on priority in their wards.

“But with the Chief Minister likely to give up his post, we cannot wait till the list is prepared. So we have chalked out a tentative list,” the sources added.