Civic issues hit Bengaluru's 'global city' ambitions

Potholes, floods & water scarcity: Capital completes 4 years sans elected body

The past year has been a tough one for Bengaluru as challenges faced by citizens often overshadowed the authorities’ efforts to address pressing issues in one of India’s most cherished metropolises.

At the beginning of the year, discussions centred around private establishments allocating 60 per cent of space for Kannada on their nameboards. As the year came to a close, BBMP quietly marked four years without an elected body.

With the government proposing to introduce Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, it seems unlikely that the city will have councillors anytime soon.

The year witnessed an intense summer that saw over 7,000 borewells dry up, affecting households without piped water. The city experienced its second hottest day in eight years, with temperatures soaring to 38°C. When rains did come, they caused widespread damage, first in May, later in August and October.

Potholes remained a persistent issue, resurfacing every time BBMP claimed to have filled them. The collapse of a six-storey building in Babusapalya claimed lives of nine workers, sparking outrage.

As the year went by, BDA failed to implement a comprehensive master plan (CMP) to regulate the city’s rapidly expanding outskirts.

The authority still relies on Revised Master Plan of 2015, drafted in 2007, as basis for approving new developments. On the contrary, BDA moved with utmost haste in privatizing 7 BDA complexes meant to serve local community.

A few positives though

On the bright side, BBMP collected over Rs 4,200 crore in property tax — setting a new record, an indication of revenue staff losing part of their ‘informal revenue’.

In terms of infrastructure, BBMP unveiled ambitious plans for elevated corridors and tunnel roads, costing over Rs 1 lakh crore. However, it didn’t invest as much effort in completing ongoing flyover works in Ejipura, RR Nagar and Yelahanka. Nonetheless, BBMP did initiate white-topping of 138 km of roads and promised to asphalt approximately 390 km.

Namma Metro made strides as well, completing 13.76 km of underground tunnels between Kalena Agrahara on Bannerghatta Road & Nagawara. The utility opened a 3.14-km extension to Madawara on Tumakuru Road and double-decker flyover on Marenahalli Road.

But officials fell short of their target to open the 19.5-km RV Road-Bommasandra yellow line due to shortage of rolling stock. Overcrowding on Purple & Green lines is unaddressed.

The BWSSB commissioned Cauvery 5th stage water supply scheme, bringing in an additional 750 million litres per day (MLD) to the city’s outskirts.

There were also talks about a second international airport in Bengaluru, though the government is yet to announce the location. Also, BBMP took steps to eliminate the manual Khata system, but the new e-Khata system faces complaints of harassment by officials at local level.

Lastly, the Congress-led government, which accused the previous BJP government of demanding 40% kickbacks for projects, failed to uncover evidence of corruption within BBMP. Despite setting up four committees of IAS officers and later transferring the probe to a one-man commission, no substantial proof of wrongdoing was presented by year’s end.