BENGALURU: City Development minister K. J. George has promised a city makeover that will see at least 16 roads being rebuilt, maintained and run on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. However, instead of the cost being borne by government, it could be paid for, through an infrastructure cess on fuel.
Mr George says that this is a subject that is still open to discussion and is being looked at as an option, but if it does come through and such a cess is levied, the citizens will pay more for roads in the city, irrespective of the condition of the road!
The other option - of levying a toll within city limits as a payback to investors - remains just that - talk - as tolls cannot be levied within city limits as it would create congestion; Road users cannot be made to pay a toll unless it’s a highway or a specially constructed facility like the Worli-Bandra Sea Link. Instead, the state government has the provision to levy an infrastructure surcharge.
Speaking to DC, Mr George said that, earlier, the state government was collecting infrastructure cess on fuel but that has since been scrapped.
However, objections and suggestions on levying fuel surcharge will be thrown open to the public, and the final call will be made by CM Siddaramaiah who also holds the finance portfolio.
