BDA's tasks: township, 10K more flats, lake revival

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will expedite the work on its first-ever innovative township in Konadasapura on Old Madras Road, East Bengaluru.

It will enter into a public-private partnership and shortly invite tenders. "We have got 166 acres of land and work has already begun on 25 acres. We will execute the housing project while private players will  focus on the commercial part," a BDA official said.  Meetings will be held soon to work out the modalities of the project, he added.  

The BDA will not build any villas but limit itself to constructing flats. The commercial complex will  have a space technology hub and trade units.  "It will be a self-sufficient complex whose residents will  not have to go anywhere else for  any errand," the official said.  

The agency has modelled the township after  similar private projects in Okalipuram and Brookefield.  If successful, it will be replicated in Kempegowda Layout.  

10,000 more flats

This time, too, the government has given more thrust to building flats than developing plots in Bengaluru. While the budget does mention completing the works in Kempegowda Layout, the government intends to  construct another 10,000 flats.

The BDA official, however, said  building so many more flats would be improbable. "This year, we could construct only 3,200 flats and villas. We have also been tasked with constructing one-bedroom flats for the poor," the official said.

Rs 62 crore for lakes

The cash-starved BDA has been allocated Rs 62 crore for rejuvenating and fencing 12 lakes out of the 177 in its possession. But it is yet to identify the lakes and the timeline for their rejuvenation.