The Business Line 08.02.2010
18 urban projects in Mysore, Bangalore await clearance
Nagesh Prabhu
Bangalore, Feb. 7
The Central Government is yet to clear 18 projects formulated for Bangalore and Mysore (nine each) estimated to cost Rs 1921.53 crore under its ambitious Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
The shares of the Central and State governments in these pending projects are Rs 988.48 crore and Rs 253.13 crore, respectively. The remaining is to be raised by the implementing agencies.
Modifications
Several reasons have been cited for non-approval of the projects by the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) under the Urban Development Ministry.
In several projects, the Centre has asked modifications in detailed project reports (DPRs) submitted by executing agencies, technical details and exploration of PPP in projects.
In the case of development of 17 lakes, the CSMC has asked for a comprehensive DPR for all the lakes.
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had submitted it in October last.
So far, the Centre has approved 66 projects for both cities involving an investment of Rs 4,254.46 crore. The Centre has released its share of Rs 753.28 crore and the State has contributed Rs 269.06 crore, according to sources in the State Urban Development Department.
The CSMC has not cleared nine projects for Bangalore. The BBMP has submitted four project proposals for appraisal of the Centre in 2007 and 2008 costing Rs 569.17 crore.
The projects are remodelling of storm water drainages in Byatarayanapura (Rs 117 crore), Krishnarajapura (Rs 118 crore), Rajarajeshwari Nagara (Rs 142.74 crore) and development of 17 lakes (Rs 191.43 crore).
The Bangalore Development Authority has submitted four project proposals (Rs 590 crore) while the Karnataka Road Transport Corporation has submitted one (Rs 60.23 crore) for construction of an inter-model transit centre at Peenya. The Centre has asked the KSRTC to explore the PPP model to implement the project.
The Union Urban Development Ministry has not approved nine projects pertaining to Mysore city. Of the nine proposals, five are under appraisal of the CSMC, and the rest of the proposals have been returned to agencies directing them to give more details.
The cost of these nine projects is Rs 702.03 crore and the shares of the Centre and the State are Rs 561.62 crore and Rs 70.20 crore, respectively.
The Mysore City Corporation (MCC) and the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) have submitted three proposals each.
The Tourism Department has submitted a proposal in 2007 for creating tourist infrastructure at Chamundi Hills (Rs 34.96 crore).
The Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) sought approval for the water management through surface and rainwater harvesting project at Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in 2009 (Rs 3.30 crore).
Approval was also sought on a proposal on Heritage Asset Management and Development Plan for Mysore (Rs 2.90 crore).
The MCC has proposed to implement conservation of natural lakes in Mysore in two packages (four lakes each) and a comprehensive underground drainage scheme for city including providing sewer network for uncovered missing links. The cost of three projects is Rs 405 crore and the shares of the Centre and the State are Rs 324.54 crore and Rs 40.57 crore, respectively.
The MUDA has submitted three DPRs on the construction of six-lane ring road (Rs 90.70 crore), construction of houses for economically weaker sections (Rs 144 crore) and development of Heritage Park on 35 acres in front of Lalith Mahal Place (Rs 20.50 crore). But the CSMC said that for clearing the Heritage Park project, a mechanism for proper appraisal of the project should be constituted.
