The Hindu                09.10.2013

Bijapur DC promises to implement master plan

Deputy Commissioner Ritwik Ranjan Pandey said he was studying the long-pending ‘Master Plan’ project of Bijapur city for improving basic facilities and infrastructure of the city.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Tuesday, he said the project would be implemented strictly after going through the guidelines laid down by the government, and added that efforts would also be made to clear any legal or administrative hurdles for the time-bound implementation of the project.

He said that since he took over the charge only recently, he needed some time to study the project before taking necessary steps.

The ‘Master Plan’ for the developing Bijapur city has been pending for years without seeing any headway. Many people believe that the ambitious programme was relegated to the backburner because of lack of political will and lack of interest among the previous Deputy Commissioners in the project.

Since ‘Master Plan’ proposed the demolition of many shops in prominent market areas for road-widening, the resistance for the project was coming mainly from the shopkeepers.

“Every time the matter of implementing the ‘Master Plan’ surfaces, some influential traders exert pressure on the local MLA or other elected representatives to see that the project never takes off.

“Unfortunately, the elected representatives too act as per the whims and fancies of the traders and give a damn to the interest of common people,” said an irate political leader who did not wish to be identified.

Meanwhile Mr. Pandey said that if the guidelines of the project mention time-bound implementation, then the project would be commenced as soon as possible by resolving all issues.

He said the first priority would be given to the development of roads and other infrastructure under ‘urban development project’ for which Rs. 100 crore had been allocated by the government.