The BDA submitted before the High Court on Thursday that it won’t allow any kind of commercial activities on 40-feet wide roads in the City as per the amendment to the Revised Master Plan-2015.

The counsel for BDA submitted that according to the amendment to the master plan, even on roads that are over 40-feet wide, conditions will be laid down for starting commercial activities.

Following this, a Division bench of Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice B V Nagarathna adjourned further hearing on the PIL challenging the powers of BDA in framing RMP-2015 rules.

Notices Issued

The High Court on Thursday issued notice to the government, BBMP and BMTC in connection with a petition challenging a government order dated November 11, 2012 permitting the transfer of five acres of Kalasipalyam bus stand area to BMTC to construct a traffic transit management Centre.

Petitioners Liyakahat Ali and others, who are operating a private bus service, challenged the order contending that BBMP does not have the power to exchange public property.

On Friday when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah gets up to present the State budget, the debt-ridden BBMP will be looking to him for special grants to help it complete many pending projects even as it prepares to present its own budget on Monday.

Speaking to Express, Mayor B S Sathyanarayana said officials met the CM recently and urged him to allocate Rs 5,000 crore in special grants. “We gave a detailed report on works that were under progress. The CM assured us of looking into our request. We hope BBMP gets a better share,” he said. “At present, four projects, including a steel bridge near Minerva Circle, have been approved by the Centre under JnNURM grants. We expect the State government to allocate its share for these four projects,” he added.

The Mayor said, being a Bangalorean, he expected no additional tax will be introduced in the State budget. “The CM should give priority to city infrastructure. As a vehicle user, I want space to park my vehicle at Metro stations as BMRCL has not made such provisions. I expect the budget will lay stress on parking lots at Metro stations,” he said.

District-in-charge Minister R Ramalinga Reddy said as the city’s population had reached one crore, revenue from the City to the government in terms of taxes had also increased. “Siddaramiah’s budget will definitely focus on upgradation of major roads, development of newly-added areas and matching grants for JnNURM projects,” he said.

Reddy said the BBMP had availed of loans of up to Rs 2,000 crore and Rs 1,500 crore for ongoing works. This apart, they have expenses like salary and transportation. “Hope the CM will rescue them,” he said.