Bangalore tops BSY's priorities

Bangalore tops BSY's priorities
By Basavaraj Itnaal, DH News Service, Bangalore:
Bangalore has been favoured in the third budget presented by B S Yeddyurappa...


To begin with, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) has been given a special grant of Rs 300 crore against Rs 250 crore in his last budget.

BSY has also increased grants to Metro Rail to Rs 700 crore against Rs 173 crore in 2007-08 while the governor had allocated Rs 200 crore. This has effectively increased State’s equity in Metro Rail by Rs 500 crore.

The state finance commission (SFC) grant to Palike also has risen to Rs 458 crore against Rs 322 crore in the last budget.

Of the Rs 458 crore, Rs 253 crore would go towards salary and electricity bill of BBMP while the rest of it would be spent on maintaining roads and drains.

More roads

Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has been asked to spend Rs 1,050 crore for works mostly in BBMP area. The Chief Minister has allocated Rs 700 crore to BDA for providing roads and drinking water in the five new zones of BBMP apart from Rs 350 crore for 10 flyovers and underpasses. In fact, it is not as if BDA is getting any money from the exchequer for this. Government sources said that BDA would spare the proceeds it has accumulated from selling the sites.

Another major announcement is that Rs 240 crore has been earmarked for roads in and around Bangalore. Actually, this allocation is made to public works department to upgrade roads reaching BBMP limits from outside the city.

Rs 3000 crore has been allocated to BDA for 65 km Peripheral Ring Road (PRR). Since entire PRR is envisaged as Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) project, no budgetary support would be necessary.

The budget conveniently avoids mention of who would give this Rs 3000 crore - government, BDA or the developer. As per BOT agreement, developers bears all cost.

BDA has identified 17 locations along outer ring road (ORR) between Central Silk Board and Hebbal Flyover apparently to create a signal free access to the new International Airport. Rs 350 crore would be spent on these apart from some flyovers for which project reports are yet to be prepared.

Car parking

The government is considering a proposal from KSRTC and BMTC to allow them higher FAR (floor area ratio) for terminus buildings so that they can have more commercial space.

The government would allow them FAR 4-5 provided they agreed to provide MLCP for public over and above what is required by building bylaw. Right now, BMTC/KSRTC terminuses can only put 300 sq m or 5 per cent of built area for commercial use. Government would take up 45 terminuses, 10 under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and 35 on its own, with higher FAR. This would also create huge parking space in the city.
The budget announced 40 multilevel car parking (MLCP) lots. BBMP has already processed 10 such projects under Swiss Challenge.

The locations where you can see MLCPs are; Sukhsagar Mall in Gandhinagar, Freedom Park, SP road cross, Russel Market, opposite Surana College in Kengeri, Yelahanka santhe maidan, Yelahanka RTO, opposite football stadium in Richmond Town and near Ambedkar Engineering College in Nagarabhavi. These ten MLCPs would have a cumulative capacity of 3000 cars.

Drinking water

Rs 100 crore had been allocated to Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to provide drinking water to the new zones of BBMP. These areas are covered under Greater Bangalore Water Supply Project (GBWASP) funded by Japan Bank of International Co-operation (JBIC). Since the project would be completed by 2012, the government has to make interim arrangements. BWSSB would spend Rs 100 crore on tube wells and local distribution networks. The budget has also allocated Rs 3400 crore under JBIC funding.

Failed vision

In his last budget, BSY had announced a tunnel expressway between Minsk Square and BDA junction. Instant underpasses near BDA junction and Cauvery junction have virtually made the project impossible. Now the officials claim that since a high speed rail link is proposed on the same corridor, tunnel road may not be necessary.

Another, grand vision of BBMP had been to build an elevated inner core ring road. The road was expected to cost Rs 3000 crore after a technical study, two expressways; north-south and east-west were preferred. Now, north-south expressway too is dropped in favour of high speed rail link to the new airport.

BDAs PRR too is not free from trouble. Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) has objected to building of southern loop of PRR.

Apparently, the framework agreement on Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) prevents government taking up any competing project. According to sources, NICE objected that the PRR competes with its BMIC link road from Hosur Road to Tumkur Road.

RS 700 CR FOR METRO

The sum of Rs 700 crore allocated for Metro Rail projects is “good”, said a top official of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). “This is an over four-fold increase over the Rs 172.88 sanctioned by the State in the 2007-2008 budget and will help us in our infrastructure,” said the official.

The increased allocation this year is to expedite Phase-II of the project. With the completion deadline of Metro Rail barely three years away (2011), the project is in a crucial stage now. The construction of piers on MG Road is currently on, the Byappanahalli depot construction has begun and the selection process for the contractors of the Halasuru and Old Madras Road Metro Stations are on.

Issues related to the alignment of Namma Metro passing through CMH Road, acquisition of land for construction of stations at Plaza theatre and Trinity junction have not been fully solved yet and are before the courts, pending a final verdict. The Building Condition Survey for Reach 1 and 2 have been completed.

PUBLIC FEEL...

The budget takes care of all regions and promises to uplift the poor. Setting up of a cell for Non Resident Kannadigas and schemes for youth is praiseworthy. But, all depends on how effectively the programmes are implemented. CM should make his actions speak.

Prof Jayashree Kambar, Lecturer,
S Nijalingappa CollegeLORRY OWNERS HAPPY

Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Association has welcomed the State Budget 2008-09 and called it the best ever. President of the Federation G R Shanmugappa said in a release that fixing of diesel rates on par with neighbouring states has brought `utmost happiness to truckers’. He also lauded the government for handing over the issue of speed governors to the Centre.

Shanmugappa praised the CM for opening of BMIC road for traffic and to build four truck terminuses around Bangalore.

The CM has neglected urban areas, which give more revenue. There should have been more programmes for the urban areas. The budget promises many things, but is silent about generation of funds. Old popular programmes presented in a new way.

Anil Naik, Assistant General Manager, Akash Audio

It’s a good budget as it promises free power supply, agricultural loans at 3 per cent and setting up of agricultural fund. But what about money for these programmes and will they be implemented effectively? There are no roads in rural areas and what the people will do with airports? Fixing retirement age at 60 is injustice to lakhs of unemployed youth.

SM Shiggaon, Sub Inspector, Excise

Supplying free power to farmers is a revolutionary step. Fixing retirement age at 60 is a good step. Such people will have some energy till 60 and can deliver goods. Several schemes for the development of Bangalore City shows the CM’s commitment to lift the city to new heights.

Rajaneesh Aradhya, Lecturer

The budget is a mixed bag in which the CM has managed to please all sections of the society. The CM has not specified clearly about revenue generation. Increasing retirement age by two years will lead to unrest among youths. Without infusing young blood, faster pace of growth is difficult.

Kamal, Associate Manager-Finance, Flucido Media Networks, Private Ltd.

Funds earmarked for developing infrastructure in Bangalore are less. More funds are necessary to complete the ongoing projects on time. There is no mention of generation of revenue to fulfil the promises. Efforts have been made to take care of farming community.

Bhaskar Reddy, photographer