Cong manifesto aims to make Bengaluru 2nd capital city

Providing a special package of Rs 1 lakh crore for infrastructure projects in Bengaluru and setting up a dedicated Metropolitan Planning Committee to monitor the growth and development projects of the city are among the highlights of the region-specific manifesto, which was released by the Congress on Saturday.

The manifesto was released here by Sam Pitroda, former advisor to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, along with AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal and Bengaluru Development and Town Planning Minister K J George at the Jnana Jyothi auditorium.

The manifesto also promises to equip the city in such a way that it becomes the second capital city of the country.

“We will ensure that within five years world-class infrastructure is created, with a special package of at least Rs 1 lakh crore through the state government, Government of India, consortiums and other alternate sources, to make Bengaluru City eligible for consideration as the second capital city of India,” read the manifesto.

In July last year, R V Deshpande, Minister for Large and Medium Industries, had put forth this plan and even submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister’s Office, it said.

The manifesto also assures to build more flyovers, extend TenderSURE roads, provide 2,000 km of footpath and also make all the existing lakes pollution-free. Interestingly, it also assures mandatory contracts for workers of collection and transportation of segregated waste. This has drawn ire from many activists, who have been demanding the regularisation of even autorickshaw drivers and assistants along with pourakarmikas.

“It is a move to appease the contract lobby. What happened to the Rs 500 crore allocation for solid waste management that was made last year? They (BBMP) could have used this to buy vehicles,” said Kathyayini Chamaraj, an activist.

It was in August last that the state government had abolished the contract system for pourakarmikas.

“It is the betrayal of demands of the workers. We are unanimously against this,” said Clifton D’Rozario, general secretary, BBMP Guttige Pourakarmikara Sangha.

The region-wise manifesto also includes development plans of cities such as Shivamogga, Davanagere and Raichur.