New transport body for Bengaluru, but little else

In order to decongest Bengaluru roads, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday announced formation of Integrated Road Transport Authority (IRTA), a separate authority headed by him.

The new body would ensure better coordination with other transport majors including Bangalore Metropolitan Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) for strengthening the public transport system across Bengaluru. While the budget has nothing much to offer for Bengaluru, formation of a new transport body has rekindled hopes on effective use of public transport.

Though the initiative will be driven by transport majors, civic bodies like Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) have also been roped in to provide infrastructure. Kumaraswamy has also set aside Rs 1,000 crore for the already announced six inter-connected elevated corridors in the next four years. The Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd has been entrusted with the task of executing the project at a cost of Rs 15,825 crore. In fact, the project, when mooted three years ago, met with severe criticism with citizens urging the government to lay emphasis on public transport rather than building flyovers.

However, the project has made a silent comeback in the budget.

This hybrid-annuity model is a mix of both engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and build, operate and transfer (BOT) models, where the government has an option of public-private partnership. But private players will not have a say in the collection of toll or maintenance. The budget also lays stress on the announcements made by previous chief minister Siddaramaiah three months ago, that studies are being undertaken for the 95-km Phase 3 of Metro line. This line includes the connectivity from JP Nagar to KR Puram and Iblur to Carmelram junction among other important places.

The government mentioned that a special purpose vehicle will be constituted to take up work on the 65-km peripheral ring road (PRR) work at a cost of Rs 11,950 crore. This will also include land acquisition. The government stated that mobilisation of resources for the PRR has been in progress.

The budget has also proposed to provide a direct subsidy of Rs 100 crore to BMTC to strengthen its services. It also proposes to establish 100 charging units at a cost of Rs 4 crore to encourage the use of electric vehicles. BMTC would also introduce 80 electric buses.

With traffic and transportation as priorities, the Congress-JD(S) coalition government’s maiden budget has also promised to protect the city’s water bodies and address worsening air quality. Allaying the fears of activists and citizens, the chief minister said the government is keen on rejuvenating Bellandur Lake by utilising what had already been allocated by the previous government.

Alarmed by the worsening air quality across Bengaluru, the budget proposed to establish 42 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations at a cost of Rs 96 crore. To reduce chemical pollutants in sewers, chemical effluent treatment plants will be set up at a cost of Rs 10 crore in Peenya Industrial Zone. Kumaraswamy also said that Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) will shift all overhead lines to underground to ensure safety.

The government has promised to distribute 5,000 sites in Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout. It has also announced building multi-floor houses (ground floor+14) in selected areas.

The coalition government will also continue its announcement of providing one lakh houses for the poor. There will be a 3% reservation for persons with disability in the present housing projects. Houses will be distributed in keeping with the demand. The government assures to continuing its work of GIS-based mapping of properties.