Focus on infrastructure, prop tax

Focus on infrastructure, prop tax

BBMP Likely To Present 2009-10 Budget Today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Bangalore: A slew of infrastructure projects with a designated team of litter cops. But, after one year, there’s no sign of the four roads on drains or work on elevated corridors or these litter cops.
Even as BBMP’s budget for 2009-10 is around the corner, some of last year’s promises have remained on paper. The BBMP has charted a Rs 4,000-crore budget for the coming fiscal with major emphasis on infrastructure development and property tax collection. It is likely to be presented to the administrator on Wednesday.
The BBMP has estimated at least 25% of revenue from property tax collection this year by bringing about 18 lakh properties under its net. The agency plans to take up several magic box underpasses, pedestrian subways, develop 24 lakes and widen roads.
Last year’s outlay of Rs 2,918 crore with estimated revenue inflow of Rs 2,940 crore. Several new initiatives were announced but hardly implemented.
The much-publicized litter cops — members of the Territorial Army — to check littering at identified locations/streets and penalize offenders didn’t take off due to divided opinion among politicians. Roads over storm water drains under the Swiss Challenge method were proposed on four main stretches — K H Road to Inner Ring Road of Koramangala (5.1 km); Old Madras Road to Airport Road in Chalaghatta Valley (2.7 km); Airport Road to Bellandur Tank in Chalaghatta Valley (4.2 km) and Outer Ring Road to Raja Canal STP of Hebbal Valley (2.7 km).
And, the proposed development of a portion of Vrishabhavathi Valley into a model river front on the lines of Sabarmati river valley development project at Rs 60 crore has remained a non-starter. 2008-09 AUDIT
WHAT TOOK OFF
Smoothening of stretch leading to BIA Pre-cast underpasses along Sankey Road leading to BIA Widening of Race Course Road, Sankey Road, Palace Road Civic works in newly added areas Pedestrian subways Storm water drain and road development works Property tax collection as per SAS 2000 rates NON-STARTER SCHEMES
Sakrama fees: More than 3 lakh properties expected to be regularized. Likely inflow to infrastructure fund through fees/ penalty was Rs 100 crore. Government played spoilsport by staying the scheme
Managed Health Care with agencies like ‘Medi Assist’. Pilot project was to be launched in June 2008 at Bommanahalli
Evening health clinics across all areas under its jurisdiction for urban poor. These would provide OPD facilities every day, manned by doctors taken on contract basis
Green police/Parisara mitras in each ward from among students/volunteers to protect trees of the ward