‘Model city’ promise for B’lore

‘Model city’ promise for B’lore
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Annoyed with frequent power cuts and loadshedding, the BJP has promised to set up an exclusive power-generation unit for Bangalore city.
The vision document speaks of converting Bangalore into a model city, and wooed voters with the phrase: “vote BJP-save Bangalore’’.
Now, its agenda includes drawing up blueprints to ease vehicular traffic; improving road infrastructure; continuous water supply; better drainage system and a separate power-generation unit for Bangalore.
The BJP has vowed to implement the K Kasturirangan committee’s suggestion of direct elections for the BBMP mayor, who has a five-year term. A commissioner to assist him will be selected from professionals once in three years.
To cover the metropolitan region of 8,000 sqkm, a Metropolitan Planning Council, comprising elected representatives and experts, will be constituted. It will plan and coordinate activities in the region.
The administration will be decentralized to improve service delivery and prompt citizen participation. Development programmes, i n cl u d i n g parking facilities in different parts of the city, will be undertaken under publicprivate partnership model. Keeping future water requirement in mind, the BJP will explore the possibility of tapping Hemavathi river water. Laying stress on law and order control, the party will strengthen law enforcement to reduce crime in the city.
The capital value system (CVS) tax scheme, which invited public wrath, will be reviewed and a people-friendly property tax system introduced. On the infrastructure front, BJP will encourage private participation in power production. Besides, e-governance for better services, constitution of citizen advisory committees for better administration and performance-monitoring are in the offing.
“The plan has been drawn up keeping in mind growing urbanization. About 35% of the state’s population lives in urban areas and by 2020, this will increase to 45%.
The party is committed to improving the living standards of the urban population,’’ manifesto committee chairman V S Acharya told reporters.
On the industrial development front, the BJP promises to promote special zones for steel, cement, food-processing, IT and BT. The party will also encourage NRIs and non-resident Kannadigas to invest in the state.