Palike eyes pvt money to offload old projects

The BBMP has proposed to ‘offload’ infrastructure projects, pending for years, to interested private parties.

In a policy shift being mooted at the Chief Secretary level, BBMP has decided to opt for Public Private Partnership (PPP) to complete long-pending infrastructure projects and also undertake new ones.

As a result, citizens may, in future, be required to pay tolls for using roads, community halls and even toilets.

After a day-long meeting of officials on Tuesday, BBMP is said to have taken the initiative to identify private agencies for completing projects that are pending for the past few years. Insiders say the PPP move is a direct result of the Palike’s ‘inability’ to fund projects.

“The PPP model is being taken up after a series of discussions at the Chief Secretary level to execute projects which are pending for long. This may be applicable to BBMP’s new projects also in future,” said a senior Palike official.

On Tuesday, BBMP Commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda gave in-principle approval for officials to identify private players interested in  projects which are in the pre-procurement stage.

These projects include, 114 skywalks, 13 Multi Level Car Parking (MLCP) projects, two indoor stadiums at Begur and Srinagar and the Ambedkar Bhavan at KR Puram. 

Sources said success stories in other municipal corporations across the country have encouraged the State government to propose such a model. The projects to be ‘offloaded’ have been identified with the help of Deloitte Consultants, who gave a report after a brainstorming session with Palike officials on effective streamlining of revenue collection. The move is expected to help BBMP ‘wash its hands off’ projects that have become more of a burden.

More revenue

“This is expected to bring in revenue for the Palike, after deducting the share of profit of the private parties,” said the official.

One of the proposals is to construct a MLCP at Freedom Park. According to sources, the Palike will now identify a private party to take up the project on a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) basis.

The construction of the Ambedkar Bhavan in KR Puram, which is half complete, may also be taken up on a PPP basis.

The Palike has reportedly invested half of the project cost of Rs 18 crore on the Bhavan, but it has come to a standstill due to ‘unknown’ reasons.

The selected private agency will complete the Bhavan and use it for its own purposes, before handing over the building to BBMP.

Private help

This apart, Palike will seek private partnership in development of market complexes, seven signal free corridors, solid waste management, energy efficient streetlighting and lake development.