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Palike makes big promises for infrastructure

Tuesday, 31 August 2010 09:57 administrator
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The New Indian Express  31.08.2010

Palike makes big promises for infrastructure

BANGALORE: As speculated, there was considerable stress on many developmental projects in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike budget.

The budget announced many works under the Central government’s JNNURM scheme and other schemes.

It also announced `40 crore for the development of the approach road to the Bengaluru International Airport.

The budget also allocates money for construction of over 50 grade separators in the city.

As much as `64.44 crore would be spent on construction of Railway Under Bridge and Railway Over Bridges, he said, adding that greater thrust would be given to ‘Bottom up’ planning and decentralisation in governance through various information technology interventions.

Also, storm water drains would be upgraded to prevent flooding. There would also be widening of roads and improvement of arterial and sub-arterial roads, construction of subways, road underpasses and flyovers at important junctions.

According to the budget, there would be efforts to encourage wall paintings and beautification of bus bays.

Under the comprehensive investment plan, `3248.40 crore of the `22,000 crore would be used for development.

Arterial and sub-arterial roads stretching to 512 kms and seven dedicated signal-free corridors would be developed under this scheme and an additional `1,000 crore would be earmarked to provide link to the state and national highways with the central business district.

Many other projects would be taken up under public-private partnership.

To enable signal-free traffic movement from Yeshwantpur Circle to Outer Ring Road  (about 3.5kms), a project would be taken up in consultation with the Bangalore Development Authority and the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited at the cost of `3.95 crore.

A flyover would also be constructed at the cost of `178.24 crore to provide non-stop traffic from Sirsi Circle to Nayandahalli.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 August 2010 10:00
 

From the bleak house of BBMP

Tuesday, 31 August 2010 09:47 administrator
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The New Indian Express  31.08.2010

From the bleak house of BBMP

P N Sadashiva, chairman, taxation and finance committee, presents the BBMP Budget on Monday. ENS

BANGALORE: BBMP has bruhat plans to improve the city’s crippling infrastructure and enhance its sagging international image as the silicon city and investors’ paradise. But it has failed to reckon how these mega plans will be executed with an empty purse.

BBMP has presented a `8,488 crore surplus budget (it has to present a surplus budget as per the KMC Act), with an opening balance of `424.72 crore.

With no real source of revenue, other than property tax, BBMP is pinning its hopes on three major sources of grants — loans from financial institutions (around `4,000 crore), Central government’s JNNURM (`195 crore), state government grants (around `1,800) and the biggest hopes of raising money through Akrama Sakrama (`750 crore). If this money comes, then the projects would be a reality, otherwise they will remain on paper.

With staggering expenditure on pending bills, administrative costs, debt services, BBMP would be left with little or no money to spend on development. Moreover, it may even find it difficult to utlise the funds this fiscal as it has just six months to implement what it has promised.

The much-hyped Akrama-Sakrama scheme has already been incorporated as a revenue source even though the Governor is yet to give his assent for the scheme. BBMP hopes to mop up `750 crore from this scheme.

The ambitious and surrealistic budget is the first by an elected body after the formation of the BBMP. It lacks both direction and clarity on revenue generation and expenditure. The biggest breadwinner for the BBMP is property tax — so far only `800 crore has been collected.  Sadashiva and Mayor SK Nataraj have made their intentions clear and stated that they would raise loans again to the tune of `1890 crore. BBMP already has loans worth `2,600 crore from various banks and `1,500 crore in unpaid bills. The Mayor said that they would pay back Rs 520 crore as part of the loan clearance next month. But with over Rs 4,000 crore in loans, one wonders how development will happen?

Sadashiva has stated that he will bring the nearly 6 lakh properties under the tax net and get more than 4.5 lakh traders to renew their trade licenses.

An amount of Rs 150 crore has been given in the Mayor’s grant and Rs 25 crore has been given to the Deputy Mayor, with only half of the prescribed one year of rule left for them.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 August 2010 09:51
 

MCD raises alarm over equipment purchase

Monday, 30 August 2010 07:49 administrator
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Hindustan Times  30.08.2010

MCD raises alarm over equipment purchase

After the alleged streetlight scam, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is now being cautious in procuring medical equipment for the Commonwealth Games. In a letter written to the MCD commissioner K.S. Mehra on August 26, the leader of the MCD House, Subhash Arya, has urged the commissioner to stop purchase equipment worth Rs 2 crore.

According to Arya, the cost of equipment quoted by the companies recommended by Delhi government is 70 times higher than the market price at which the MCD had been procuring the same equipment till date.

"We have been asked to set up a medical camp at university's rugby stadium and also in Hindu college for two days, for which Delhi government has made it mandatory for us to purchase certain equipment without inquiring whether our hospitals have them or not. Why should we buy equipment which we already have and that too at a much higher price? I have asked the commissioner to look into it," said Arya.

Arya further claimed that the companies that they have been asked to purchase the equipment from have been blacklisted by the Delhi government in the past too.

He said they already have a 1,000-bedded hospital — Bara Hindu Rao — and rather than purchasing the equipment, they could easily use the equipment from the hospital.

"We have to buy a total of 34 items which will be used to provide relief to basic sports related injuries on the spot. There is no need to buy the equipment  for merely two days," said Arya.

Last Updated on Monday, 30 August 2010 07:54
 
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