Thursday, February 08, 2007

Bangalore all set for a makeover?

Hindu reports

Eight Government agencies unveiled their agenda to make the Garden City the best global address in the world. A look at some of the grand plans by A.B. SUDHINDRA

At the "Bangalore Today, Tomorrow," an interactive workshop held here last week, the heads of eight government agencies unveiled their plan to make the Garden City "the best global address in the world." The tagline was "Well Known, Still Young" and citizens of "today and tomorrow" participated with great enthusiasm.

Here is what the various civic bodies are planning to achieve. The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), under a new housing scheme, will offer more than two lakh houses for the lower middle and poor sections of society. The project will be implemented in Bangalore east and west zones.

Over 1.6 lakh houses will come up in the east zone and 81,000 in the west. All the houses will cost around Rs. 3 lakh. BDA has also announced that now the focus will be on vertical growth. There will be no 20X30 sites and 30 ft. wide roads in new layouts. A hi-tech corridor will come up at a cost of Rs. 140 crore. The BDA will also distribute 50,000 sites in the coming years.

Three-pronged strategy

The Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) has a three-pronged strategy to "decongest" the lives of Bangaloreans. Integrated townships, ring roads and expressways will add value to "Brand Bangalore".

It will also ensure that the forests, water bodies and heritage sites of the city are protected. The redevelopment of 39 roads of special economic relevance will be taken up and one can zoom on BMR ring roads which will have a speed limit of 180 kmph. The second phase of the airport expressway will connect NH 207.

BBMP projects

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will unveil projects worth Rs. 2,000 crore in 2007 to boost infrastructure. These include six underpasses, 155 km of arterial roads and modernisation of Malleswaram market.

It will also upgrade five slums at a cost of Rs. 13 crore. Revamp of solid waste management, landfills on 500 acres and a modern abattoir at Iglur are also on the anvil.

Water supply

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will complete Cauvery IV stage II phase project by 2010. The project will provide another 500 million litres per day (mld) to the city.

Bruhat Bangalore will require about 1,576 mld of water and there is a shortfall of about 700 mld. The agency has plans to quench the thirst of Bangaloreans by completing the Netak Balancing Reservoir project which will provide 100 mld. Recycled water from Yelahanka and Vrushabhavati plants will be supplied for non-potable use for industries. It will also complete water supply and sewerage connections in all slums by 2010 and replace corroded underground water and drainage lines.

BMRC work

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) has identified four corridors to commission its project. Bannerghatta-Mysore Road, Mysore Road-Tumkur Road, Tumkur Road-Bellary Road and Bannerghatta junction - National College projects will be taken up. The works under Reach 1 from Byappanahalli to Cricket Stadium will start in February.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will add 737 Euro III buses. It will commission eight depots and seven stations.

Modernisation of existing bus stations is also on the anvil and it will establish traffic and transport management centres at Jayanagar, Domlur, Yeshwanthpur, Kengeri and Bannerghatta.

# BDA to offer more than two lakh houses in Bangalore east and west zones for the lower middle and poor sections of society.
# All the houses will cost around Rs. 3 lakh.
# There will be no 20x30 sites and 30 ft. wide roads in new layouts.

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