Potholes, too many of them, which make the roads disappear; garbage, too much of it for the landfills to accommodate; water, too little of it for a brimming one crore population... and BDA sites, just not enough for thousands of aspirants. Has the IT City, which should have made every Bengalurean proud, gone down the drain too far to save itself? As 2016 winds down, DC surveys the most pressing problems the city faces and the solutions — if there are any, for 2017!
Potholes
Potholes dotting the city roads have now become death traps for motorists. Even a number of accidents involving potholes, some of them fatal, have not awakened the BBMP from its slumber. The civic body must improve the condition of roads in the interest of safety of citizens’ lives.
Water supply
Most parts of the IT city face acute water shortage. Although the BWSSB has been spending huge amounts of money in the name of setting up a water supply network, they have not been able to accomplish this goal. Moreover, the leakage is nearly 46 per cent, which the BWSSB has failed to plug.
Garbage
Garden city Bengaluru has earned notoriety as ‘garbage city’ and also made international headlines. The BBMP must ensure that the garbage is processed and disposed scientifically to help the city win back its earlier sobriquet of Garden city.
Elusive sites
It is the primary duty of the BDA to see to the planned growth of the city, form layouts and allot them to citizens on a no-profit no-loss basis. But the civic body has failed in its primary duty and is in no position to allot sites to the allottees at Arkavathy Layout for nearly a decade. Although the BDA is forming Nada Prabhu Kempegowda layout, citizens are not sure if they will get sties without any hassles.
Last mile connectivity
Last mile connectivity is still a distant dream for residents of newly developed areas and also for those residing in the interior parts of old Bengaluru. With Railways planning to launch the commuter train and Metro planning to extend its services, people expect some relief from this problem.
Electric, CNG buses
The increasing pollution and issues related to climate change has now forced the BMTC to think about introducing electric and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueled buses in the city. BMTC management has written to the Central Government seeking funding to buy electric buses, as they are more expensive than diesel buses. In addition GAIL and BMTC are now discussing the possibility of converting the existing diesel buses to CNG.
Commuter Rail
The implementation of the commuter train is one of the oldest demands of the Bengaluru residents. Even though South Western Railway has started DEMU and MEMU services on few selected routes, city residents are expecting full-fledged services will be implemented soon to de-congest the city roads.
Railways
Two issues that are haunting the lakhs of commuters traveling between Bengaluru and Mysuru by train is frequent delays and lack of infrastructure. Once the doubling works of the track is completed, travel time can be reduced drastically. Another major expectation of the commuters is implementation of high speed train between the two cities to reduce travel time.
Bus services
BMTC has been struggling to cater to the peak hour rush and many buses are overcrowded, especially those connecting central business districts — commuters it is a daily nightmare. Though Bengaluru has emerged as the country’s IT capital with 24/7 workplaces and a bustling night life, BMTC’s night services continue to remain scant. The commuters are hoping for better connectivity during the night and stress-free travel always!
Trifurcation of Bangalore varsity
Though the division process was initiated when the BJP government was in power, it has not been completed till now. The State Government has appointed two special officers for this purpose, but there is a delay in identifying the institutes and boundaries of new university. Developing the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) on par with the IITs is another demand. Though the proposal was sent to union government, no action has been taken.
AIIMS like institute needed
This is one of Bengaluru’s longstanding demands. The central government has already sanctioned an IIT for the state. Now the state government must push for the central government to sanction an AIIMS like institute too. The state has already identified land for the proposed institute.
Plug loopholes in RTE implementation
Every year allegations and counter allegations are made with regard to the implementation of 25 per cent Right to Education (RTE) quota in the private schools. Many schools are allegedly forged documents to evade implementing it. Activists want the state government to come out with an action plan to stop the misuse of RTE provisions.
GPS in buses for passenger safety
BMTC claimed recently that it has introduced GPS instruments in all its buses to ensure passenger safety and provide real time information on bus movement. But this project has not been fully implemented in the city
Foolproof SSLC, PUC exams needed
Every year SSLC and II PUC final examinations are fraught complaints like question paper leak, valuation boycott and mass copying among others. This year, the state education department needs to implement a foolproof plan to ensure sanctity of the examinations.
End confusion over state school syllabus
State school syllabus and text books are changed according to the whims and wishes of the ruling party. This year the text book revision committee was divided over the pattern of syllabus. DPI wants to implement CBSE text books for students to help them prepare for national level tests, but the text book revision committee is against it. In addition, there is no clarity on upgrading the state syllabus to CBSE/ICSE level.
