A whopping Rs 7,300 crore for infrastructure projects, the remodelling of the storm water drain network to save the city from its annual monsoon floods and the hauling up of negligent officials made for an action-packed day in Bengaluru as the CM conducted his monthly inspection. Lofty promises have been made, but the city needs more than just that. Is this just an attempt at political posturing or will something come of these city-wide rounds, asks Team DC.
On his monthly rounds to review progress of infrastructure work in the city, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday announced a whopping Rs 7,300 crore to give it a much needed boost and also provide Cauvery water to the newly added areas.
With the monsoon setting in, the emphasis is on remodelling the city’s storm water drain (SWD) network to prevent flooding of roads in a heavy downpour. Announcing Rs 800 crore for the SWDs, he told reporters that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) had been prepared for remodelling them. Noting that the city had an SWD network of 842 kms, he said a retaining wall had been built over 115.8 kms and work was on for building it over another 25 km of the SWDs. In all, the city needs Rs 5,000 crore to remodel its entire storm water drain network.
Mr Siddaramaiah said he had given strict deadlines for completing the remodelling of the drains and other infrastructure projects to ensure smooth flow of traffic and arrest flooding during the monsoon. Recalling that the Gali Anjaneya Temple and its surroundings were often flooded in rain, he said the BBMP had come up with a two-pronged solution. It includes heightening the drain on Mysuru Road and re-directing the traffic plying from Vijayanagar towards Mysuru. The Chief Engineer has been given 20 days to complete this project. The construction of a bridge across the drain near Kavika on Mysore road is half-way through and it will be completed by July end, according to the Chief Minister. The project will cost the government Rs 5 crore.
Meanwhile, work is underway to reduce the distance from SRS on Tumukur road to TVS circle in Peenya industrial Area from from 10.5 kms to just 1.5 kms by building an access through two acres of KPTCL property on Laggere Main Road, which have been acquired for the project. Earlier, vehicles had to take a detour on the busy Tumkur road, he explained, adding that he has given the engineer concerned a deadline of August 15 to complete the work.
32 acres now a green space
Following instructions given during a previous inspection, 32-acres of forest land in Nagavara have been developed into a beautiful lung space called the Hennur Tree park. Rs 5 crore has been sanctioned and the development work is currently taking place. The Vanamahotsava programme will take place at Hennur Tree park on July 15 and a large number of saplings will be planted. Efforts will also be made to rename the park after Basavalingappa, who championed the safeguarding of the park.
BBMP commissioner Manjunath Prasad assured the CM and the public that the Byappanahalli and Jalahalli Road Over Bridges (ROB) across the railway track happens soon. He also said that efforts have been made to provide compensation and alternative land too. Meanwhile, the BBMP has agreed to part with two acres of land at MEG in Ulsoor for the Byappanahalli ROB. At the moment, the land has been leased to MEG, he said.
CM takes BDA to task over delayed projects
With several projects like the flyovers and underpasses at Hennur, Kanteerava Studio Circle and Jalahalli pending completion due to problems over land acquisition, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday took BDA Deputy Commissioner (land acquisition), Vasant Kumar to task for the delay and ordered him to expedite the process.
The BDA , he said, must get the properties registered and pay compensation to the landowners as soon as possible. Noting that the flyover connecting Lingarajpuram and Hennur had been hanging fire for the last five years due to land acquisition issues, Mr. Siddaramaiah gave the BDA a month to complete it. He promised to provide a 30X40 site for construction of a temple near Lingarajpuram.
The Hennur flyover, he was told, will require acquisition of about 61 properties at a cost of Rs 60 crore. About 13 property owners have volunteered to part with their properties here. As for the long pending flyover at Jalahalli railway track, which attracted the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi following a letter written by a 13-year-old boy about the traffic ordeal, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the authorities must complete the land acquisition at the earliest. He was informed that the BDA board had approved disbursal of compensation to owners of the acquired properties.
Inspections are about political posturing: RK Misra
Commenting on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s tour of the city, urban expert and vision group member, RK Misra, says that instead of doing field inspections, he could get a list of the top 20 incomplete projects and address the issues holding them up with the officials concerned.
“Although some good comes out of his city tour inspections they are more or less about political posturing and gaining the confidence of voters,” he says, adding that the Chief Minister should pay attention to projects like some of the road- over- bridges that have remained incomplete owing to land acquisition issues and repair of potholed roads .
“Also, sanitation measures are very important to the city. The lack of a proper sewerage network not only pollutes lakes but also causes health problems. Water is another major issue which needs to be addressed on priority. It must be provided to people at an affordable cost. Merely forming committees and getting reports will not solve anything,” Mr Misra underlines.
Noting that despite crores having been spent on storm water drains and so on, low lying areas continue to be flooded in heavy rain, he says its time a permanent solution was found for these recurring annual problems. Moreover, the Chief Minister needs to concentrate on social infrastructure like schools, hospitals and housing , in his view. “The quality of government and BBMP schools must be improved. Public health is another area which cannot be ignored by the CM,” he underlines.
