‘An interface between the BBMP and the people is a priority…’

‘An interface between the BBMP and the people is a priority…’
Greater Bangalore needs to traverse many paths to live up to its global city image. The beginning is both simple and crucial, says the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner Dr S Subramanya, in a chat with Prathima Nandakumar


What are the top five priorities of the BBMP?
At the threshold of Greater Bangalore, we are facing many challenges. But the priorities should be building an interface between BBMP and the people, decongesting traffic with intersection management, garnering untapped resources, better enforcement of municipal bye-laws and developing a health and education centre.
How can we address the disparities across the Greater Bangalore area?
We conducted a need assessment of the new areas. We found that there is serious lack of infrastructure and systems. For example, there are no roads, solid waste management or revenue mobilisation. We will now execute a comprehensive solution rather than work on a knee-jerk reaction.
How will you boost BBMP's interface with the common man? Setting up contact points across the city to help citizens redress grievances will offer solutions to matters related to revenue, solid waste management, enforcement, administration and parks. The points will cut the response time. They will be on a trial mode in November and will be opened to the public in December.
Traffic decongestion is inevitable. But how soon can you ease it?
We are banking on modern technology - installing segmented elements, to branch out traffic at intersections. We hope to install 17 pre-cast underpasses, which is time-saving and economical too. Of this, six will be along the Bellary Road - between the upcoming international airport and Balabrooie guesthouse, which will make it a signalfree corridor. This apart, we are widening arterial roads in phases.
The parking troubles can fade once we introduce automated parking at eight different hubs in the city. We are encouraging private plot owners to provide parking in exchange for incentives like higher FAR.
What would be your next step to augment revenue?
BBMP's main source of revenue is property tax. But the tax coverage has been dismal. The lacuna is huge. Figure this - there are six lakhs assessed properties, but the satellite imaging has mapped about 14 lakh properties and going by the electricity meters, we have 24 lakh properties in the city. A register for properties linked to GPS and a system to verify Khatas and property assessment at the ward level will bring in better compliance among tax-payers. The next step is to tap into high value properties, which can fetch a minimum of Rs 1 crore a year. There are 2,000 such units and our High Value Assessment Unit will monitor these properties.
Can the proposed health and education centre ensure a clean Bangalore?
Handling 3,500 metric tonnes of garbage daily is a mammoth task. Unless, we have declared dumping yards, we cannot monitor the garbage collection and safe disposal. Apart from enhancing the capacity of existing dumping yards, we want to increase the number too. Segregation of plastic waste from biodegradable waste is an eco-friendly initiative. For that, we are setting up plastic collection points across the city and will offer Rs 6 per kilo of plastic. The city has door-to-door collection of garbage from residences,
but lacks a system to collect waste generated by commercial and industrial units, and floating population. We will include them in the next health tender. Erecting dustbins at strategic locations can keep the city clean. Mechanised sweeping of arterial roads is a new initiative too. We are also in talks with National Institute of Design for lower capacity mechanised sweepers.