Nagarothana scheme to resuscitate city.
By Dileep Thekkethil
For the people of Bengaluru who have been struggling due to the poor infrastructure development of one of India’s busiest cities, the decision of the cabinet to approve projects under the chief minister’s Nagarothana scheme worth Rs 7,300 crore ($1.1 billion) comes as a big relief.
According to law minister TB Jayachandra, the infrastructure problems in Bengaluru will have a solution within two years as the government gave a nod to the ambitious infrastructure development project, which will bring new amenities to the technology hub of India.
“The finance department has already agreed to release Rs 6,050 crore,” law minister TB Jayachandra said. “Approval has been given for the release of funds for two years to ensure continuity in the projects and their early completion.
“Though the finance department had not agreed to the demand for Rs. 7,300 crores and chose to downsize it to Rs. 6,500 crores we have decided to release the whole amount keeping in mind the development works to be carried out in Bengaluru.
“Any infrastructure development work worth over Rs.10 crore will have to be vetted by a high-level committee before being forwarded to the government for approval,” he added
Bengaluru city’s infrastructure is expected to get a massive revamp through chief minister’s Nagarothana scheme.
Road infrastructure development, construction of underground drainages, stormwater drains and development of footpaths are some of the major development agendas of the two-year fast track project.
The term of the Congress-led Siddaramaiah government end in two years and the government has been under intense criticism over the lack of infrastructure development, poor traffic, and a worsening solid waste management in the city.
The move of the government is seen as an attempt to regain the support of the people ahead of the election which is due in the next two years.
Adding to this, the expert panel set up by the government consisting of industry leaders has been pushing the government to take steps to improve the infrastructure of the burgeoning city.
The Times of India reported that some investors too had taken a dig at the government at the Invest Karnataka Global Summit.
The Siddaramaiah government had allocated Rs. 10,000 crores for Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) against Rs 4,770 crores last year.
The package includes Nagarothana plan, special investment plan and assistance by finance commission and other grants from the Centre.
The law minister also said that the government will soon set up a high-level committee to clear tenders higher than Rs.10 crores under the Nagarothana scheme to ensure transparency.
This is how the Nagarothana scheme worth Rs 7,300 crore will be distributed for infrastructure development of Bengaluru:
White topping – Rs. 800 cr
TenderSURE – Rs. 200 cr
Grade separators – Rs. 153 cr
Traffic management – Rs. 100 cr
Whitefield/Peenya – Rs. 156 cr
Markets – Rs. 25 cr
Storm water drains – Rs. 800 cr
Roads – Rs. 400 cr
Waste management – Rs. 600 cr
Pending works – Rs. 1,478 cr
Ejipura flyover – Rs. 204 cr
Shivananda flyover – Rs. 50 cr
Bridge at Banaswadi – Rs. 40 cr
Lakes – Rs. 156 cr
Hospitals/buildings – Rs. 75 cr
Playgrounds – Rs. 40 cr
Spillover works – Rs. 700 cr.