Past proposals still on paper

ast proposals still on paper
By Afshan Yasmeen, DH News Service, Bangalore:
The proposal to asphalt the Bus Terminal Road, a stretch of Bellary Road, was approved on October 4, 2004. Scheduled to be taken up at a cost of Rs 2 lakhs, it was supposed to be completed by March 2005. But to date, the asphaltation work is yet to start...


The asphalting of ‘balance roads’ of HMT Layout, Chowdiah Block, was approved on April 3, 2001 at a cost of Rs 2 lakh. It was supposed to be completed by March 31, 2004. But there is no sign of work being taken up.

Likewise, the proposal to re-metal and chip-carpet roads in T P Venugopala Layout was approved on October 12, 2003; the work order of Rs 3.2 lakhs was issued on June 4, 2004. Work is yet to start.

These are just three examples of pending road upgradation proposals, which are being carried over in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) budgets year after year.

With officials gearing up to present another budget on March 28, the common question that is bothering citizens is whether the roads in their areas will be asphalted at least this year.

“I am not bothered about underpasses and other big budget projects. My main concern is whether the road in front of my house will be motorable at least this year,” says Gangadhar, a resident of Nagarbhavi 2nd Stage, which falls under the BBMP’s Rajajeshwarinagar zone.

Residents of this BDA-approved layout, who are residing there for the last 15 years, are yet to see good roads. “The inclusion of our area in the BBMP limits has served no purpose. We continue to pay the taxes and be deprived of basic amenities,” he said.

With most of the past proposals still on paper, the question is whether the BBMP will be have a realistic budget this year.“What is the use of announcing projects when you are not keen on taking them up?” Mathew Thomas of Citizens’ Action Forum asked.

Realistic budget

BBMP Additional Commissioner (Finance) Sandip Dash, who will present the budget this year, told Deccan Herald on Tuesday that this year’s budget would be a “realistic and pro-people” one.

Admitting that several proposals listed in last year’s budget are still on paper, Mr Dash said that only such proposals that are feasible even at this juncture will be carried over.

In its Rs 3,312-crore budget for 2007-2008, the civic body had announced construction of nine underpasses, seven grade separators, 34 automated pedestrian skywalks, 13 railway under-bridges and railway over-bridges, Inner Core Ring Road, elevated roads over storm water drains, comprehensive development of slums under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and remodelling of storm water drains at a total cost of Rs. 2,055 crore. This included JNNURM funds of Rs. 1,060 crore.