Connectivity is budget mantra

Connectivity is budget mantra
BBMP Adds Green Touch To BIA Link
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: What can Bangaloreans expect from April 2008 to March 2009? Not merely a host of grade separators or elevated corridors that promise to transform the face of Bangalore, but a wider sweep of connectivity projects. Connectivity accounts for 55% (Rs 1,600 crore) of BBMP’s total outlay for 2008-09. Two projects stand out — toll roads over storm water drains and beautification of NH 7 leading to Bengaluru International Airport.
With an outlay of Rs 2,918.71 crore and revenue estimate of Rs 2,940.55 crore, BBMP commissioner S Subramanya and special commissioner (finance) Sandeep Dash presented the budget estimates to administrator Dilip Rau on Friday. Here’s what people can see within one year: Bangalore will see its first set of toll roads that will be built over stormwater drains. Four such roads are proposed under the Swiss Challenge method (14.7 km in the
budget): KH Road to Inner Ring Road of Koramangala (5.1 km); Old Madras Road to Airport Road in Challaghatta Valley (2.7 km); Airport Road to Bellandur tank in Challaghatta valley (4.2 km) and Outer Ring Road to Raja Canal STP of Hebbal Valley (2.7 km). Infrastructure major IDEB has offered to take up the project.
Chipping in to enhance the commute to BIA, BBMP will beautify the 33-km stretch at a cost of Rs 8 crore. It will install nine high-mast lights and 2,046 bright lights on the stretch, plant trees.
Besides, 91 roads over a stretch of 144 km have been identified for widening. Four elevated corridors or a total of 15.6 km — Sirsi Circle to Kengeri, Rajajinagar entrance to Yeshwantpur junction, Minerva Circle to Hudson Circle and Rajiv Gandhi Circle and Srirampuram — have been proposed, with an allocation of Rs 52 crore. A host of grade separators, in addition to magic box underpasses at 46 locations, 36 pedestrian subways, seven RUBs/ROBs, 36 skywalks and 1,100 bus stops are proposed to be constructed.
Litter cops to bring civic sense
Bangalore: Beware of littering in public. BBMP-appointed litter cops will penalize those doing so. Flying squads, armed with cameras, will catch persons littering, dumping garbage, spitting and urinating in public. They will impose fines ranging between Rs 100 and Rs 5,000. If the fine is not paid within a stipulated time, a notice carrying an image of the civic offence will be served.
BBMP proposes to appoint Territorial Army personnel as litter cops to sensitize the public about using dustbins. These cops will travel around the city 24x7. Litter cops is a concept new to India, being introduced on the lines of such a system in London and Bangkok. BBMP intends to spend Rs 30 lakh on sensitizing the public.
SALIENT POINTS
Property tax under CVS, to be levied from April 1, won’t burden you No new cess to be imposed on citizens 46 magic boxes, 4 elevated corridors to decongest traffic 91 roads to be widened 3 lakh properties to come under Sakrama net