It’s a tough job well done

It’s a tough job well done
Controversies Aside, Subramanya Changed Cityscape In Two Years
Aarthi R | TNN

Bangalore: His two-year tenure on the ‘hot seat’ has been a mixed bag of developments. Ditto with public reactions to his transfer. A few stumped him with brickbats, embarrassed him with phrases like ‘grazing donkeys’ and a few others embraced him with ‘concrete’ success, even turning him into a ‘citizen extraordinaire’ recently.
It’s been an eventful journey upfront for S Subramanya, ever since he took charge as BBMP commissioner on June 25, 2007. The recent isolated case of Abhishek’s death might have ended his tenure, but the developments remain in the public eye. Widened roads, magic boxes for pedestrians fitted in 24 hours, a GPS system to keep garbage disposal on track, revised SAS that fetched Rs 750 crore in revenue this year and a GIS system to track all unassessed properties — a few successes for the Palike during his time. However, little can be said about byelaws for pets and litter cop policy that are yet to see the light of day.
REPORT CARD
COMPLETED
GPS tracking scheme for garbage trucks; introduction of PPP mode in garbage collection and disposal Revised SAS scheme; Bangalore’s first property register in place using GIS mapping A whopping Rs 750 crore property tax collected for the first year
UNDERPASSES
3 surface passes at BDA office, CBI Junction and Sanjaynagar 3 vehicular underpasses at Cauvery junction, Maharani’s and K R Circle 8 pedestrian magic boxes came up within 24 hours. Three more to come up at at K R Circle by Sunday
SIGNAL-FREE CORRIDORS
DPRs ready for four corridors: Hosur Road, Old Airport Road, Mehkri Circle-Beniganahalli and Dr Rajkumar Road Tenders floated for 21 junctions
FLYOVERS
Completed Yeshwantpur flyover Kadrenahalli and Puttenahalli underpasses to be completed in September
WIDENED MAJOR ROADS
Race Course Road, Sheshadri Road, Bellary Road, Palace Road (reaching completion), Hosur Road (under progress) and Kasturba Road (yet to start) DPRs getting ready for widening of 86 other roads in various stages Housing for slum dwellers Pilot project under BSUP for Kalyani slum dwellers
BUS BAYS
More than 32 bus bays out of 100 planned in 2006-07 complete
QUOTE HANGERS
It’s been a rather rough exit for many BBMP commissioners. Their tenures are full of controversies, fighting with elected representatives, citizens or with his/her subordinates. The only exception was late N Lakshman Rau, former administrator. High time the government considers restructuring the BBMP’s administrative set-up, appoint urban development professionals as commissioners for a five-year tenure, nominate a few professionals as council members and make the employees accountable. Only then will we see some change in its functioning.
N Mukund | JAYANAGAR RWA
I think it’s the right move. Expect a commissioner who reacts to issues that really concern the people.
Pradeep Reddy | FORMER CORPORATOR
What is not checked does not get done. Such steps by the goverment should send strong signals to civic authorities responsible for providing basic amenities. Bureaucracy had better wake up. We have the worst in Asia, with some exceptions. Subramanya must have been more aggressive in enforcing a few standards. In the Army, the credit for good work is shared by the team while the team leader accepts responsibility for the bad jobs. However, whether the new commissioner wakes up to the needs of the people, is to be seen.
Brigadier Murti | HSR LAYOUT - SECTOR 2 RWA