Action taken report points to stiff civic challenges

Action taken report points to stiff civic challenges
TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Civic infrastructure has been a thrust area for the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike over the past year, if the Action Taken Report is any indication. This ATR gives a overview of the works that were planned in 2007-08 budget and the progress on that score.
Liberalisation of transferable development rights (TDR), road-widening packages, and new initiatives in public health and sanitation are areas that the Palike has focused on over the year.
The announcements made last year on plans for various sectors and the action on the ground don’t exactly tally. The ‘action’ entered against some of the plans has been categorised in vague terms like ‘being done’. Some of the figures, though, show considerable progress.
What’s up: Liberalisation of TDR was at take-off point the previous year, with the Palike also detailing widening plans (by 24-30 metres) for four priority roads: Seshadri Road, Palace Road, Race Course Road and Kasturba Road. A total of 85 roads (144 km) were identified under the plan the previous year.
The ATR shows that the Palike has notified 45 roads for widening under TDR (phase I) and the rest have now been notified under phase II. Widening has also been taken up on Bellary Road, Hosur Road and Hosur-Laskar Road.
What’s down: The comprehensive parking policy for the city, that was announced the previous year, is still in draft stage. The ‘first-of-its-kind in South India’ automatic car parking that was to be taken up in congested areas like Gandhinagar as well as the multi-level ramped car parks at select locations have remained on paper. The ATR, though, mentions work on metered on-road parking on 37 roads under the Bangalore Transport and Traffic Initiative.
To address water shortage issues in newly-added zones in Bangalore, a special provision allotment of Rs 42 crore was made last year. The announcement has translated to works taken up on a budget of Rs 8 crore per zone, including works on drilling and maintenance of borewells.
A new sanitation scheme was extended to the new areas as well, on a budget of Rs 117 crore. The ATR says that new health tenders have been placed for 30 packages in the old BMP areas.
Two packages for mechanical sweepers are being implemented on major roads covering over 300 km. Towards mechanisation, 28 compactors, 603 auto tippers and 224 closed vehicles have also been introduced.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS ROAD RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE
Plan: Six under-passes in 10 months
Action: Work commenced, except one shelved underpass
Plan: Elevated roads over stormwater drains Action: Feasibility study on; pilot work executed in Basavanagudi
Plan: 34 automated pedestrian skywalks on BOT basis Action: Earlier tenders reconsidered to incorporate escalators
STORM WATER DRAINS
Plan: JNNURM project to separate sewerage at Rs 40 crore Action: Sewage treatment plants are proposed to be set up
REDEVELOPMENT OF SLUMS
Plan: Interventions in all slums under JNNURM Action: 22% of budget earmarked for urban poor
WELFARE MEASURES
Plan: Self-employment training for electricians/plumbers/gardeners Action: Poor response, despite publicity
CULTURE AND SPORTS
Plan: Separate department for culture and sports Action: Department already set up
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION
Plan: New dog pounds at Rs one crore Action: Two dog pounds at Mysore Road and Queens Road renovated
Plan: Extension of ABC for dogs to newlyadded areas at Rs four crore Action: Extended through five packages and being implemented through NGOs
E-GOVERNANCE
Plan: Networking of all BBMP zones Action: Networking done connecting all zonal offices to BBMP head office
HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
Plan: Health and accident insurance scheme for BBMP employees Action: Health scheme introduced from March 1; MoU with 84 hospitals
ESTATES AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Plan: Digitised maps, cataloguing, indexing, microfilming of records Action: Scanning of records taken up