Govt sets up blueprint action group to wipe off B'luru blues

The state government has constituted a Bengaluru Blue Print Action Group (BBPAG) to address myriad problems through a collaborative, planned and holistic approach.

Chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the group has Infosys chief mentor N R Narayana Murthy, Wipro chairman Azim Premji, and a mix of urban experts and development professionals among its non-official members.

Formalised through a government order last week, BBPAG moves beyond a Vision Group model and stresses on implementation. The mandate of the group is clear: To finalise a Bengaluru Blue Print, a road map for the future, articulating short, medium and long-term solutions to the city’s issues.

The Blue Print will set goals and give directions to achieve them in each area. BBPAG’s objective is also to improvise on a draft blueprint prepared by NGO Janaagraha, adopt a vision quickly and implement it systematically.

The ultimate aim is to move away from patchwork solutions and focus on sustainable and transformational change.

High on the group’s agenda is improving the quality of life in Bengaluru through a well-planned upgrade of the city’s infrastructure in consultation with the civic society, associations and industry.

Inter-agency coordination, transparency through e-governance and financial stability will be critical to this task. Bengaluru development minister is BBPAG’s vice-chairman.

Besides all MLAs representing Bengaluru, the group also has Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw; Siddaiah, B S Patil and V Ravichander from the BBMP restructuring group; Ramesh and Swati Ramanathan from Janaagraha, Flipkart executive chairman Sachin Bansal and Microland director Kalpana Kar.

Being a government-headed panel, BBPAG is seen as a clear shift away from the erstwhile Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF), which had only civil society representatives.

Group members felt the partnership model, well represented by sector experts and other stake-holders, is likely to see quicker action and long-term reforms. The Group is also expected to have a big say in the preparation of the Master Plan 2031.

BBPAG is an offshoot of the Bangalore Vision Group (BVG), constituted in March 2014. Its functioning was stayed by the High Court. Last year, the court disposed of the public interest litigation challenging the setting up of BVG.