The new Indian Express - Bangalore 31.07.2009
BBMP draws grand plan to end infrastructure woes
BANGALORE: If everything goes as per plan, Bangalore will have world-class infrastructure on par with other metropolitan cities in the country. In a bid to bridge the gap in the infrastructure needs of the IT city, BBMP has submitted a proposal to the state government on Capital Investment Plan worth Rs 22,000 crore for infrastructure development for 2009-2012.
The proposal is believed to be an answer for decongesting traffic as well as avoiding flooding during rain. If various infrastructure projects under CIP are taken up and completed in the next three years, traffic problems in the city will be addressed to a great extent.
Sources in BBMP said that the Outer Ring Road of about 62 km, which cuts across various radial roads such as major national highways and state highways, is mostly underdeveloped in terms of size, structure, continuity and connectivity.
“Nearly 82 per cent of the total existing roads in old BMP limits are twolane carriage ways. Thus, a majority of these roads are congested, leading to traffic snarls,” they said.
“There has been an increase in the length of arterial and sub-arterial roads with newly-added zones,” they said. The officials also said that it had been proposed to build five more Town Halls in the newly-added zones.
The CIP estimation also includes the cost of land acquisition required for these projects in case the transferable development rights scheme does not work out. The scheme promises land acquisition by allowing land-losers more vertical floor area, while constructing buildings. Sources said that the funds for CIP were expected to be mobilised from BBMP, state government, Centre/JNNURM, bonds/loans with government guarantee, BDA contributi on and public private partnership.
Proposed projects under CIP
Making 12 important corridors signalfree, covering a distance of 118.5 km
Widening, strengthening and asphalting of arterial and sub-arterial roads in newly-added zones of BBMP for identified length of 494 km
Construction of elevated via-ducts
Construction of railway overbridges/ underbridges
Construction of elevated road over stormwater drains (SWDs) from Double Road (KH Road) to Koramangala (NGV) on Koramangala valley (5 km) and from Rajiv Gandhi Circle near Sheshadripuram to Mysore Road on Vrishabhavathi valley (10 km)
Remodelling of SWDs in newly-added areas of BBMP
200 skywalks along signal-free corridors
200 pedestrian subways using precast RCC segment
Construction of elevated North-South corridor (Madiwala to Hebbal) and East corridor via Vellara to Whitefield
Improvement of lakes and parks
Improvement of existing markets and construction of new ones in newly- added zones of BBMP.