Projects worth Rs 1,900 crore get Palike nod

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has approved projects worth Rs 1,900 crore including those taken up under funds from the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), proposed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

In a meeting held here on Thursday, Siddaramaiah said a committee will be formed to oversee the works from the beginning of their implementation till the end.

He directed the officials to expedite the eight-lane road from Okalipuram to City railway station which is coming up with a cost of Rs 300 crore.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Rajajinagar MLA S Suresh Kumar complained that the land acquisition process has not yet begun due to which the project is getting delayed.
Siddaramaiah assured them that he would look into the matter.

The chief minister said the remodeling of 300 km-long storm water drains will be undertaken on a priority basis, which will give life to 40 lakes in the City. Government has already given its nod to this project.

He also discussed the status of sky walks and directed the officials to install nine lift-operated sky walks in various places of the City. He also instructed the officials not to have sky walks above five metres, which will be approximately about 17 ft above the ground level.

Budget on July 26

Yielding to pressure from BJP corporators, Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy on Friday cancelled the budget meeting which was scheduled for Saturday. The budget will now be presented only on July 26.

The mayor had come under sharp criticism from his own quarters. The BJP corporators alleged that he was keen on  presenting a ‘Congress’ budget, which will not have any say
of the BJP, which is in majority in the BBMP Council.