Deccan Herald               28.05.2013

State seeks Rs 1,600 cr under JnNURM for B'lore, Mysore

Projects include purchase of new buses, construction of flyovers and underpasses, and laying of new roads.

With the aim of improving civic infrastructure in Bangalore and Mysore, the State government has sent proposals for at least 30 projects worth Rs 1,600 to the Centre under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) I phase.

The proposals have been sent by the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (KUIDFC). The projects — the bulk of them in Bangalore — will be implemented under the transitional phase of JnNURM, said Darpan Jain, the Managing Director of KUIDFC.

Funds have been sought primarily for projects on decreasing congestion on roads in the two cities. For the purpose, the KUIDFC has suggested the building of flyovers and underpasses, and laying new roads for better traffic management.

At present, the KUIDFC is coordinating with public utility agencies in both cities in order to forward the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to the Union Government.
Projects worth another Rs 400 crore are being vetted by the KUIDFC.

Training workshops

Some of the projects that have already been sent pertain to procuring better buses for the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). The KUIDFC has also proposed workshops to train the BMTC personnel.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has proposed at least 10 projects to improve the water supply and drainage system in the City. As for Mysore, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has proposed the procurement of new a fleet of buses for inter-city and intra-city services.

Funds in 2014

Funds under the transitional phase of JnNURM will be available until March, 2014. “We are still getting infrastructure projects for the two cities. We will forward them to the Centre as and when they are submitted,” Jain told Deccan Herald.

In terms of financial completion, 78 per cent of projects under Phase I  of JnNURM have been completed. In terms of physical completion, the civic and transport agencies have completed 27 projects; 39 more are under progress.

One project under the Karnataka Slum Development Board (KSDB) is yet to take off.