The Deccan Herald  14.12.2010

Palike scraps road through GKVK; officials to face music

Bangalore, Dec 13, DHNS:

Unanimous decision by Standing Committee; 21 cr spent so far

In what could be termed a huge relief to the students and the faculty of Gandhi Krishi Vijnana Kendra (GKVK), the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Standing Committee on Major Works on Monday unanimously recommended that the Rs 31-crore project through the GKVK campus be scrapped.

The Committee also decided to slap notices on all the officials who “conspired” the project that would have shrunk the serene campus of the country’s premier agriculture university.

Former BBMP commissioner S Subramanya had reportedly tried to push the project.

Delegation

The members arrived at the decision after a delegation led by GKVK Vice-Chancellor Dr K Narayana Gowda had a detailed discussion with Standing Committee chairman H Ravindra and other members. The delegation comprised former vice-chancellors R Dwarakanath, G K Veeresh, Dr Srinivas and university board member Dr Prasanna.

The delegates appealed to the committee to spare the campus spread over 880 acres, as land is the primary requirement for any agriculture varsity.

Dwarakanath said the university had already lost 350 acres to various government offices. The offices were somehow related to agriculture and hence it was not a major damage. But the road project was a blow to the rich biodiversity of the university, he said.

The delegates complained against former BBMP commissioner Subramanya for meddling with the university.

"He (Subramanya) tried to push this project but could not execute it because of our opposition. Later, he became the principal secretary of the agriculture department and an important member of our university board. Many of the board members buckled under pressure at a meeting on the road that was to cut through GKVK," Dwarakanath said.

He said 900 trees were felled the day the agriculture department cleared the project.

After a discussion with the other members of the committee, Ravindra informed the delegation members in the presence of mediapersons that it was the opinion of the committee to shelve the project. He claimed that the in-charge minister of Bangalore, R Ashoka, and BBMP commissioner Siddaiah were also opposed to the project.

A proposal in this regard will be tabled in the Council meeting, and once approved, it will be forwarded to the government, Ravindra said.

He said the Palike had spent about Rs 21 crore on the project and accountability will be fixed on persons involved in “benefiting a section of people”. Notices will be issued on Monday.

Hinting at action against Subramanya who took voluntary retirement, Ravindra said officials found responsible, even if retired, would not be spared. 

The Times of India  11.12.2010

HYDERABAD: As another segment of Outer Ring Road (ORR) between Pedda Amberpet and Shamshabad is nearing completion, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has set its eyes on toll tax. All major works have been completed on the 38-km-stretch, and only final touches are being given to the road.

"We are planning to get the ORR ready by December 15, 2010," HMDA metropolitan commissioner Rajeshwar Tiwari told TOI.

However, sources said though the works might be completed in a few days, the ORR stretch would be thrown open to traffic only after the state government decides on the toll tax. HMDA officials hope the toll tax would be finalised in a couple of days.

Toll tax will be collected from motorists on the entire 62-km road fromGachibowli to Pedda Amberpet via Shamshabad. Though the 24-km ORR phase-I from Gachibowli to Shamshabad was opened to traffic in November, 2008, toll is not being collected from motorists.

HMDA is in the process of finalising intelligent transport system, including highway traffic management system (HTMS) and toll management system. The toll management has been proposed in manual, touch-and-go and on-board unit (with smart card) modes. Since the intelligent transport system takes time, the HMDA has decided to collect toll manually.

ORR phase II-A Pedda Amberpet (three packages) were supposed to be completed by May 2010, but the deadline has been revised to September 2010. Again it got delayed and would be ready in the next few days. Two more packages of phase II-A covering 23.7 km from Narsingi to Patancheru are expected to be ready by March 2011.

The phase II-A cost has been pegged at about Rs 2,439 crore on build operate and transfer (BOT) annuity model. HMDA has to repay amount on annuity basis to the contractor by collecting tax.

The 71-km phase II-B (six packages) works taken up with the assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are: 38-km stretch from Patancheru to Shamirpet and 33-km segment between Shamirpet and Pedda Amberpet. These stretches would be ready by November 2011 and November 2012 respectively.

"The entire 158-km Outer Ring Road with eight lanes will be ready only in the next two years i.e., in December 2012," a senior HMDA official said.