Billion dollar promise for city

ion dollar promise for city
Bengaluru,


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BBMP budget 2009-10, one of the biggest, focuses on infrastructure development in Bengaluru, making huge allocations for flyovers, magic boxes, roads, lakes and even tree-planting, says Chandrashekar G.

Here’s a project that many Bengalureans will look forward to.
The 2009-10 Budget for the city has announced that traffic at the busy JC Road Junction will be stream lined either with a metal flyover or tunnels, which are being considered as an alternative keeping the aesthetics of Town Hall in mind.

Another metal flyover will be constructed in front of the Lalbagh main entrance, according to BBMP com missioner S. Subramanya, who presented the Budget estimates to administrator Dilip Rau on Wednesday.

A project which most Ben galureans are bound to wel come is the scheme to clean up the smelly Vrishbhavathi valley on the lines of Sabarmati River front project. The valley is in for a radical change of face if the BBMP remains true to its word and uses the funds allotted for turning it into a recreational spot. The civic agency has promised to set up seven sewage treatment plants to treat the mosquito breeding, foul smelling water of the Vrishbhavathi. Importance has been given to improving connectivity to BIA. Magic boxes are being planned to connect the northern parts of the city to the airport using precast elements.

Some of the spots where the boxes will be built are Jalahalli Air Force Station, Yalahanka Coffee Day, Koramangala-Sarjapur Road, Jakkur Circle, Kempegowda Circle at Yelahanka, Reva College and near Thanisandra Road. The BIA has agreed to open an additional gate in its cargo section to help reduce traffic congestion on Bellary Road, Mr Subramanya said.

There’s good news on the lake front. Twenty lakes are set to get a fresh lease of life at a cost of Rs 96 crore. These include Dorekere, Nayandahalli, Puttenahalli kere, Herohalli, Attur, Allalasandra, and Ambalipura.

There are proposal to plant saplings at all major junctions, bus stands, on either sides of widened roads, and to translocate uprooted trees.

Money has been pumped into both on-going projects and new initiatives to tackle the increasing traffic problem confronting the city. The BBMP has drawn up plans to upgrade roads, including four major corridors, construct 220 pedestrian under passes and 16 skywalks across the city. The civic agency aims to complete eight underpasses by the end of the financial year. Conventional grade separators will be built at Chennamma Circle, Puttenahalli and Kadirenahalli to make the Outer Ring Road stretch from Central Silk Board to Mysore Road signalfree. Road Over Bridges and Road Under Bridges will be constructed at 33 spots including Kadugondanahalli, Byappanahalli, Papamma Block, and Allalasandra. Roads leading to Bellary Road from Jakkur Flying Club, Kyalasanahallli, Hennur Ring Road, Kannur, Tindlu and GKVK will be widened and strengthened with funds from the Infrastructure Development Department, according to the commissioner.

Roads leading to newly added areas to the BBMP including 110 villages, have been given a special allocation.