Tunnel road project on pilot basis at Hebbal in Bengaluru, shops can stay open till 1 am

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday promised to transform the tech capital into “a truly global city with world-class infrastructure”.

In his budget speech in the Assembly, he said, “We will work to attract global corporate talent in the emerging areas within the IT and BT sectors, artificial intelligence and robotics, semiconductors, automobiles and other sunrise sectors to lead the country by example. This is our Kayaka”, he stressed.

“To develop Bengaluru into a world-class city, we have conceptualised Brand Bengaluru. We have introduced major reforms in various sectors to improve the quality of life of people and to attract investors. During this year, we are focusing on augmentation of resources, reducing traffic congestion, construction of quality roads, supply of clean drinking water, better public transport and creating a clean and beautiful Bengaluru”, the CM said.

“We are headed towards record tax collections during 2023-24 with tax collection of Rs 4,300 crore. This is Rs 1,000 crore more than the year 2022-23. Our tax collection is expected to reach Rs 6,000 crore in the year 2024-25 which will be achieved by preventing leakages in the tax collection system. Starting this year, additional non-tax resources of Rs 2,000 crore will be mobilised through revised advertisement policy and premium FAR policy”, Siddaramaiah said.

The government has approved white-topping works of major roads of 147 km length at a cost of Rs 1,700 crore and these will be completed before December 2025, the CM said.

Since widening of existing roads is difficult due to scarcity of land and problems in land acquisition, the government has decided to resolve traffic congestion in the city by constructing underground tunnels. On a pilot basis, a tunnel will be constructed this year at Hebbal junction where there is high traffic congestion, he said.

Construction of all-weather roads by utilising space available within the canal buffer zone is being implemented. Under this scheme, a 100 km road is already being developed at a cost of Rs 200 crore and an additional 100 km roads will be developed during this year, the CM said. Under Sugama Sanchara-Brand Bengaluru, an expert organisation of international repute has been engaged. Based on their report, measures will be taken to ease traffic congestion in Bengaluru, he added.

Shops and commercial establishments will be allowed to open till 1 am in Bengaluru and 10 other corporation areas.

The government has proposed to reposition the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) as Bengaluru Business Corridor to address traffic congestion and to promote large scale economic activities in Bengaluru. Under this project, RFP have been invited to construct 73 km road at a cost of Rs 27,000 crore under PPP model. The project will be started this year itself.

Internationally renowned architects have been invited to prepare a novel design for constructing a 250 metre-high Skydeck in Bengaluru which will become a landmark tourist destination in the city.

Captive/group captive solar parks will be established in various institutions the under Urban Development Department such as BBMP, BMRCL, BWSSB, BDA to reduce the bills incurred by these organisations.

Integrating various modes of public transport in Bengaluru, such as Metro, suburban rail, along with BMTC will help in promoting public transport on a large scale. This will help in reducing the traffic congestion and environmental pollution and will improve the standard of life of people in Bengaluru, the CM noted.

By March 2025, an additional 44 km of Namma Metro line will be added to the existing 74 km. Outer Ring Road-Airport road works under Metro Rail project Phase-2 and Phase-2A will be completed by June, 2026. The state government has accorded administrative approval for works under Namma Metro Phase-3 at an estimated cost of Rs 15,611 crore.

A draft DPR is being prepared for construction of a Metro line from Sarjapura to Agara, Koramangala, Dairy Circle and connecting to Hebbal via Mekhri Circle under Namma Metro Phase-3A. It will be submitted for approval of the central government, the CM said.

Civil works for corridor-2 from Baiyappanahalli to Chikkabanavara under the Bengaluru suburban rail project are being implemented speedily. Work orders have been issued for construction of a 46.2 km line from Heelalige to Rajanukunte under Corridor-4. Request for Proposal (RFP) have been invited for operation and management of rolling stock and agreements are being signed with European Investment Bank and KFW bank of Germany for financial assistance, the CM said.

The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will add 1,334 new electric buses and 820 BS-6 diesel buses to its fleet in the coming days. A vehicle tracking mobile app with women’s safety features is being developed by BMTC for the benefit of commuters.

In collaboration with the Japanese government, Area Traffic Signal Control System is planned to be installed at 28 major junctions in Bengaluru by using state-of-the-art technology with the aim of reducing vehicle density at traffic signals by 30 per cent and average delay by 13 per cent.

In May, 2024, Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will operationalise Cauvery Phase-5 project of 775 MLD capacity to provide 110 litres of drinking water daily to 12 lakh people, at an estimated cost of Rs 5,550 crore. Phase-II of drinking water supply scheme to 110 villages added to BBMP limits will be implemented at a cost of Rs 200 crore.

Under Cauvery Phase-5, the underground drainage works will be completed by December 2024. Under this, 228 km of drainage pipeline will be laid and 13 STPs with a capacity to treat 100 MLD sewage water will be constructed. Seven sewage treatment plants (STP) will be upgraded at a cost of Rs. 441 crore. This will facilitate daily treatment and reuse of 268 MLD sewage water.

End-to-end waste management from households to the waste processing centers is proposed. The Bengaluru Urban district will be divided into four parts and for each an integrated waste management operator will be selected through tendering process. The BBMP is procuring 50 acres to 100 acres of lands at four places in each direction and towards the outskirts of the city for processing facility and scientific landfill. This will solve the problem of landfills in the city for the next 30 years.

The Forest, Lake and Horticulture divisions in BBMP have been re-designated as Forest, Environment and Climate Change Management divisions and their jurisdiction has been widened. For a clean environment in the city, tree census and tech-based monitoring of lakes and parks will be undertaken and a separate policy will be put into effect to increase people’s participation in developing lakes and parks. Sarvajna Park will be developed in Sarvajna Nagara Assembly constituency in collaboration with BBMP.

Development Of Other Cities

In order to decongest Bengaluru, the government will formulate various schemes to develop other cities with sustainable infrastructure, thereby creating employment opportunities. Integrated townships will be developed near Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, KGF, Vasanthanarasapura in Tumakuru district and Ballari. Apart from this, Devanahalli, Nelamangala, Hoskote, Doddaballapur, Magadi and Bidadi in the vicinity of Bengaluru will be developed as satellite townships with road and rail connectivity, the CM said.

A feasibility report will be prepared for extending Metro rail from BIEC in Bengaluru to Tumakuru and Kempegowda International Airport to Devanahalli on PPP model.

In view of the rapid growth of Mysuru and increasing traffic congestion, in adding pressure on the ring road. a feasibility report will be prepared to construct a Peripheral Ring Road in Mysuru under PPP or Town Planning model. The heritage Lansdowne Building and Devaraja Market in Mysuru will be developed in a traditional manner, the CM siad.

The state’s share under the centrally-sponsored Amrut-2.0 scheme of providing tap connections for drinking water supply to all homes in urban areas has been pegged at Rs 200 crore with a target of 7.5 lakh homes. Under Amrut-2.0 scheme, works for rejuvenation of lakes and water bodies and development of parks will be taken up in select urban local bodies at a cost of Rs 539 crore.

Kavery and e-property software will be integrated across the state to prevent illegal registration of properties in urban areas and to simplify the property registration and Khata entries. Mapping and reassessment of properties will be undertaken with the help of 3D drone technology for effective recovery of property taxes and other charges and to prevent leakages in tax collection, Sidddaramiah said.

All local planning authorities in the state with a population of more than one lakh will be upgraded to Urban Development Authorities. This will facilitate achieving proper and planned urbanisation. Under Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Vikas Yojana-2.0, Rs 2,000 crore will be provided for development of infrastructure in 10 municipal corporations.