Taking Brand Blore to fringes and beyond...

Taking Brand Blore to fringes and beyond...
Bangalore, DHNS:


Extending Brand Bangalore’s reach to the City’s fringes and beyond. The idea is set to fuel Bangalore Development Authority’s agenda for Bruhat Bangalore. BDA Commissioner M K Shankaralinge Gowda on Friday called for an administrative focus on bringing the fringe areas within the ambit of Bangalore’s global image.

“Areas, including Devanahalli, Ramanagara, Hoskote and Nelamangala, should all be identified with Bangalore as the City’s extensions. These areas should be built around the Bangalore brand,” he said. The Commissioner drew parallels with cities abroad, where even far-flung areas were being identified with core city areas. He was speaking at a panel discussion on Bangalore’s infrastructure challenges on the sidelines of Home Space 2008.
Addressing concerns over Bangalore’s crumbling infrastructure, Gowda said integrated townships with higher Floor Area Ratio would be the way forward for the City.

Greater Bangalore: Gowda said the role of BDA in Bruhat Bangalore would be that of a planning authority. “We’ll continue to formulate the macro-level policies on aspects like road width and locations for schools and hospitals... the focus will be to complete projects like flyovers and underpasses in a compressed time-frame.” Detailing projects planned for existing roads in the City, Gowda said 86 roads had been identified by BDA for widening, installing grade separators or segregating traffic.

Balakrishna Hegde, president, KOAPA, agreed a regulatory body for the real estate industry could make a positive difference.

PLUSES, MINUSES

* Bangalore is the II fastest growing city in India; the first is Ahmedabad
* In 1998, IT exports from India was $500 million, while now Karnataka’s exports alone constitute $14 billion.
* Everyday, 1,500 vehicles are registered in the City. Vehicle pressure on roads can be reduced only when people use public transport
* Meeting demand for power may not be a problem. But water availability and increased number of vehicles would be a major constraint.