BS Yediyurappa keeps his promise, sets up new authority to tackle traffic

Bengaluru: Close on the heels of his promise to give the city a facelift in the next 100 days, Chief Minister, B. S. Yediyurappa announced the establishment of a Bengaluru Mobility Management Authority (BMMA) for a better and more coordinated transport system for it and a slew of measures to ease its traffic conditions, here on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters after a high-level meeting with transport officials at his home office, Krishna, Mr Yediyurappa, said the state government planned to target traffic congestion in 12 busy corridors of the city. "We want to encourage the use of bicycles and so we will establish workable and dedicated bicycle lanes, besides bus lanes in these 12 busy corridors, many of which lead to IT business parks," he added.

Also, Metro connectivity will be increased from the present 42 kms under Phase 1, to 300 kms to cover busy industrial hubs like Electronic City, Peenya and Whitefield by 2025. Where the city’s garbage disposal is concerned, all vehicles carrying its rubbish will in future be fitted with GPS, ending the garbage mafia's inflated billing scam.

The Chief Minister explained that the BMMA would prepare a master plan for transport infrastructure, and function as the empowered agency for all urban transportation projects.

“Public transport operators like the BMTC, BMRCL, BRL, monorail operators, and the railways need to be brought under one umbrella along with infrastructure development authorities like the BDA and BBMP to evaluate the integration of land use, coordinate all land transport matters and for a common ticketing system in future," he said.

The new authority will oversee implementation of all transport projects and initiate a regulatory framework for land transport systems.

Mr Yediyurappa revealed the government also planned to hire as many as 6,000 buses to reduce congestion in the city. "For a change, this time, we will not procure buses but hire new buses from the manufacturing companies to reduce the burden on transport corporations," he said.

It has also been decided to bring all lakes in Bengaluru under the BBMP and give priority to clearing encroachments on the lake beds.