Promises galore

Promises galore

While the Congress and the BJP have unveiled a host of promises for Bangalore, the JD(S) is yet to reveal its manifesto for the state, let alone Bangalore. Interestingly, in their 2004 manifestos, none of these parties had a special focus on Bangalore. That the parties are at least promising goodies for the country’s IT capital indicates this time around shows that they realize the fact that the city is slipping into urban chaos. The moot question is whether they will they live up to their word.



CONGRESS
Investment of Rs 50,000 crore for Bangalore’s infrastructure. A special purpose vehicle to mobilize resources to be set up — Rs 20,000 crore each to come from tax revenue from local body and public-private participation and Rs 10,000 crore under JN-NURM.
Single agency to bring all service providers such as water, transport, housing, power under BBMP.
IT corridor with a techno fast track road.
Involvement of Resident Welfare Associations in maintaining layouts, parks, and other civic amenities. Time-bound completion of infrastructure projects.
Improvement of all intersection roads.
Construction of elevated roads; grade separators to be taken up under BOT. corridors.
Classification and upgradation of roads under five zones of BBMP, covering 700 km.
Committed to provide Metro Rail to BBMP areas through the second phase.
Circular rail system to be completed.
Modernize railway stations to international standards.
Construction of dedicated expressway to Bangalore International Airport under BOT/BOO.
500 slums in Bangalore city to be developed and quality of life improved.




BJP
Exclusive
power
generation unit for Bangalore city.
Blueprints to ease vehicular traffic; better road infrastructure; continuous water supply.
Implement K Kasturirangan Committee’s suggestion of direct elections for BBMP mayor, who will have a full five-year term. A commissioner assisting him will be selected among the professionals once in three years.
For covering metropolitan region of 8,000 sq km, a Metropolitan Planning Council comprising elected representatives and experts will be constituted. It will plan and coordinate various activities in the region.
Administration will be decentralised with a view to improving service delivery and prompting citizen participation. Development programmes will be undertaken by public-private partnership, including vehicle parking facilities in different areas.
Keeping the future water requirement view, 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.
The CVS tax scheme will be reviewed by the government and a peoplefriendly tax system evolved.
Private participation in power production.
E-governance for better services, constitution of citizen advisory committees for better administration and performance monitoring.