Govt clears Rs 405-crore action plan for Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Anticipating special funds under the 15th Finance Commission, the state government has approved three separate action plans for Bengaluru, comprising a total of 70 works worth over Rs 405 crore. 

While the approval will pave the way for preparatory works, the commission is unlikely to release the funds anytime soon, as it has repeatedly reminded Karnataka to first hold the civic body polls that were due in September 2020. 

In an order dated September 2, the Urban Development Department (UDD) approved the action plan for three separate grants earmarked for 2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025–26 — all at once. All these works fall under the Greater Bengaluru Area (GBA), which covers a total of five municipal corporations. 

The action plan was prepared by the now-dissolved Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in August this year, primarily to address air pollution in the city. Following the dissolution of the BBMP, the five corporations have been entrusted with implementing the works, which is also one of the mandates of the 15th Finance Commission. 

While the government’s approval will pave the way for the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), the five corporations will not be able to start the work until the elections are held. In its order, the UDD also noted that tenders should be approved only after the Union government releases the grants. 

When Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar visited Bengaluru earlier this year, the state government had requested him to exempt the city from the election condition, stating that the matter is pending before the Supreme Court. Apart from the grants meant for Bengaluru, the delay in holding panchayat elections has also contributed to delays in implementing works across the state. 

Some citizen activists opined that the government must withdraw the action plan until the corporation elections are held so that councillors can decide on the works to be taken up. 

Others welcomed the allocations and the focus on developing footpaths.

Clement Jayakumar, a member of the Mahadevapura Task Force, said contractors generally prefer asphalting as it was faster to complete and offered higher profit margins. “Footpath work is labour-intensive and takes about a month to complete,” he said, adding that authorities must do away with paver blocks for footpaths and introduce brushed concrete, which has a longer lifespan.