Deccan Herald 21.08.2013
Rs 1,919 cr sought for civic surgery
The City may go undergo a major infrastructure
surgery as the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has sought Rs
1,919.06 crore from the Centre for some of its ambitious projects.
According
to sources in the BBMP, the Palike has sought funds under the
Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) for an elevated
road from Minerva Circle to Hudson Circle and an elevated corridor near
Kendriya Sadan along 100 ft Inner Ring Road, Koramangala.
The
two projects alone would cost Rs 302.08 crore. In addition, a signal
free eight-lane corridor with loops, underpasses and road underbridges
between Okalipuram junction and Fountain Circle also figures in the
BBMP’s wish list for Central aid.
May become a reality
Meena had even wished to extend it up to the MG Road near the M Chinnaswamy Stadium boulevard. As the BDA Commissioner, he again tried to push the project but nothing much has happened on the ground so far. If the Centre okays it, the project would become a reality.
The estimated cost of the elevated corridor integrating Ejipura Main Road-Inner Ring Road Junction, Sony World Junction and Kendriya Sadan Junction along the 100 ft Inner Ring Road, Koramangala, is Rs 173.07 crore.
Other projects are a skywalk near Mysore Bank Circle on KG Road and a skywalk and pedestrian foot overbridge with escalators and lifts at Hudson Circle. The BBMP has also sought Rs 100 crore for upgrading 148 junctions to reduce road accidents and smoothen traffic in the City.
After the State government cleared the proposals, the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Financial Corporation Limited sent them to the Union Ministry of Urban Development.
To ensure the funds’ release, a team of senior officers from the BBMP and the government would hold a meeting with top bureaucrats in the Ministry of Urban Development in New Delhi.
A senior Palike officer believed that the Centre would approve these proposals in two months. “If the Centre okays the projects, we can start work early next year,” the officer added.
