The New Indian Express 22.10.2010
'City needs planned development'
BANGALORE: The advisor to the Chief Minister on Urban affairs, A Ravindran, on Thursday said planning should be the key to any further development work in the city.“There should be a metropolitan planning committee for the core area of the city,” he said, while speaking at a meeting of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Stressing on good governance, he said more importance should be given to improving infrastructure, better housing and providing basic amenities.
He said pedestrian access should be made a priority and many streets of the city should be made exclusive to pedestrians.
On multi-storeyed parking lots coming up in the city, he said they should be encouraged but people also must understand that they too have to contribute to the betterment of the city.
He also requested the FKCCI to adopt KR Road on the ground of civic responsibility.
An urban development plan for the state was ready that, he said, would be sent to the Cabinet for approval.
Speaking on the Bangalore Development Authority, he said the civic body needed to adopt a policy of allotting group housing sites and not individual sites.
He said small establishments must be given some room to operate and that widening of all roads was not necessary.
He also cleared doubts on the Transfer of Developmental Rights (TDR) and said it was not compulsory but was being considered as an option to avoid payment of compensation. He encouraged the idea of small and other businesses coming together to invest in public infrastructure.
