Bengaluru: Ahead of state budget, to be presented on Friday, urban experts suggest some of the areas which need government attention such as decongesting the city, providing impetus to the commuter train, restructuring the city and improving education sector.
Citizens’ Action Forum (CAF) President D.S. Rajshekar said big ticket projects must be shelved and thrust should be given for project that are in the larger interest of public, such as mass rapid transport system like metro, commuter train and enhancing BMTC fleet. The BMTC should not be a profit making organization, but should cater to the public and encourage commuters to take up mass transport by leaving behind their private vehicles. The BMTC must enhance its service by improving its fleet, reducing the fare and making it more commuter-friendly.
Suburban train should actually chug along rather than running on the papers year after year. It would be a panacea for traffic snarls across the city. The city is only growing fast and so is the population. Unless the transportation is improved the city is going to be doomed. Hence, the budget must focus on it, he added.
In addition the government should not ignore solid waste management and rejuvenation of lakes are other important aspects.
Another urban expert, who is involved in planning and budget making process, said on condition of anonymity that decongestion, parking facility and restructuring of Bengaluru must be incorporated for the proper and planned growth of the city and proper utilization of budgetary funds.
If the problem of congestion can be tackled, mega projects which costs crores of rupees must be left behind and decongestion measures should be adopted by improving social infrastructure at the periphery of the city.
If water, transport, connectivity and social infrastructure are addressed, decongesting the city becomes easy, the expert added. Budget is a sacred document and the government must ensure to include what it is capable of doing. Ahead of parliamentary polls, budget should not become an inducement to voters.
