Rs 1,044 crore for infrastructure development

Rs 1,044 crore for infrastructure development
By P M Raghunandan, DH News Service, Bangalore:
Call it a 100 days' gift to Bangaloreans. The State government has in one go sanctioned a whopping Rs 1,044 crore for upgrading infrastructure in Bangalore.
With this, the Government has kept its promises made in its budget on Bangalore development. Road asphalting and widening, construction of culverts and drainage, laying pavements and several other works will be taken up across the State capital using the money in coming days. Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will implement the projects. Urban Development department has issued an order in this regard on Monday.

While Rs 300 crore has been released to BBMP, sanction has been accorded to BDA to utilise Rs 700 crore from its own resources to upgrade basic amenities, as announced in 2008-09 budget.

BBMP, official sources said, has been directed to take up road repair and asphalting work on top priority. All roads in the city are in tatters following heavy rains in the last one month.


The money will be utilised in three categories: Rs 110 crore for widening 23 additional roads by BBMP, Rs 623 crore for providing basic amenities in newly-added areas of BBMP (total 1,554 different works) by both BDA and BWSSB and Rs 311 crore for development of old BBMP areas (total 1,187 different works) by BBMP.

Lion’s share
The lion’s share of it has gone to newly-added areas of BBMP -- erstwhile seven CMCs, a TMC and 110 villages. Each of the assembly constituency in these areas, which are underdeveloped, have got an average Rs 50 crore -- Rs 56 crore to Hebbal, Rs 50 crore to Yalahanka, Rs 58 crore to Yeshwanthpur, Rs 50 crore to Bommanahalli, Rs 60 crore to Bangalore South, Rs 40 crore to Anekal, Rs 50 crore to Mahadevapura and Rs 60 crore to K R Puram.
Assembly constituencies falling within old BMP areas (old 100 wards) have got an average of Rs 20 crore.

Bangalore in-charge minister R Ashok said the utility agencies will take up developmental projects based on proposals given by the local legislators.

“BBMP has already received the list of works to be taken up from all MLAs, and it has worked out the details of the projects. Tenders will be called immediately for all the works,” he added.

Ashok had recently held a meeting of all city MLAs, including those from the Congress and the JD(S), on Bangalore development. A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting.

While Rs 300 crore has been set aside in the budget for Bangalore development, the remaining Rs 700 crore will be spent by BDA from its own resources. BDA will implement projects that are worked out by BBMP, the Minister said.