City Pulse

Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, on Friday, presented the State budget for 2016-17 in the State Legislative Assembly. Presenting his 11^th budget overall, his fourth as the CM, Siddaramaiah, out of Rs 1,63,419 crores, allocated Rs 5,000 crore to Bengaluru.

Acknowledging that Bengaluru city is the major centre for development in the state, the CM said that the state government has decided to add sheen to the charisma of “Brand Bengaluru” by achieving effective convergence of the grants given to Bengaluru through different institutions.

Highlights:

• In the year 2016-17, including Rs.1000 crore under Nagarothana plan, Rs.2158 crore under Special Investment Plan and Rs. 1064.73 crore through Finance Commission and other grants the State government is providing total out lay of Rs. 4222.73 crore to Bruhath Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike.


• The state budget has set aside Rs. 500 crore for Solid Waste Management in the city.


• Rs 800 crore has been allocated for construction of Storm Water Drain (SWD).


• Roads in Central Business District (CBD) as well as old city roads will be developed on TenderSURE model.


• White topping to selected city roads of 300 km.


• Development of 1500 kms roads to provide alternative routes within the road network.


• Development of Russel Market, Johnson Market and Krishnarajendra Market having heritage value.


• Rs 100 crore is allocated for lake development.


• The budget says that the lake cess imposed by Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds will be used for rejuvenation of Bellandur and Varthur lakes.


• All round development of IT-BT Hubs including Whitefield and Peenya Industrial Area.


• Multi level car parking in selected locations in the city.


• Construction of Grade separators in busy junctions of Suranjanadas Road-Old Madras Road, Sarjapura – Haraluru Road, Hulimavu Junction in Bannerghatta Road and Arakere Junction.


• Rs 250 crore for the development of 110 villages and City Muncipalities and Town Muncipalities coming under BBMP.


• Development of foot paths and effective traffic management.


• Reconstruction of Indira Nagar, Austin Town and R.T.Nagar Commercial complexes will be taken up on P.P.P model.


• To ease the increased vehicular traffic congestion in Bangalore City, project report for construction of elevated roads from Silk Board to Hebbal Junction (North-South), K.R.Puram to Tumkur Road (East-West1) and Varthur Lake to Mysore Road (East-West2) and other three, covering approximately 100 Kms, at a cost of Rs. 18,000 crore is being prepared. Action will be taken to construct on P.P.P model.


• The decade long demand of Sub-urban rail has been earmaked Rs. 100 crore as an initial fund. Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) will spearhead the project.


• For decongesting traffic in Bengaluru, Rail based mass transit system is essential. Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared for taking up 42 km of Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) in the Western crescent of the city for supplementing Phase I and Phase II of metro rail. Using innovative land based financing mechanism a dedicated fund will be established.


• 27 kms of Metro network has been made operational. Phase-1 project will be completed by the middle of 2016. The contracts for two reaches of phase II have already been awarded. These projects would be completed by the year 2020.


• The State Government would work on raising finances through innovative methods to connect Silk Board to K.R. Puram junction and for other new metro lines.


• The budget has also given a onetime grant to BMTC to increase its fleet by 1,000 buses, apart from 650 that BMTC will add this year from its coffers.


• The State Government has taken custody of about 13370 acres of valuable land encroached in Bangalore Urban and Rural Districts. Action plan is being prepared for the better utilization of 5500 acres of land out of this in Bangalore urban district. Permanent records are being prepared through completion of survey work of lakes and fixing the boundaries in and around Bengaluru.

The following projects have been approved under Bangalore Water Supply and drainage Board

• Water Supply and Underground Drainage Project for 110 villages coming under BBMP at a cost of Rs. 5018 crore approved with JICA loan. It includes components to reduce unaccounted for water of 180 MLD.


• In addition to existing untreated water main pipeline, scheme for extending additional untreated Water Transfer Pipeline between Forbes Sagar to N.B.R and to extend up to T.K. Halli at an estimated cost of Rs. 160.33 crore. In next 4 years STP works at Vrushabhavathi valley, Hebbal, Koramangala and Chellaghatta and Doddabele will be taken up with 25% assistance from the State Government i.e., with an assistance of Rs.355.50 crore.

Following schemes are proposed under “AMRUT” Scheme with State share of 20% and resources of the Board.

• Implementation of Water Supply Facilities to 22 Slums.


• Laying of Clear Water Pipeline from GKVK Reservoir to HBR Reservoir.


• Providing Sewage Network of 110 Kms in Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Kengeri.


• Construction of Sewage Treatment Plants at Hulimavu, Begur, Sarakki, and Agara lakes and at K R Puram.


• Construction of Pump House near Koramangala Sports Complex and to extending of existing main pipe from Sports complex to K&C Valley Treatment plant.