The State government is committed to develop Bangalore into a model city before the end of its five-year term, claimed Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.
He was speaking at an event organised to inaugurate various developmental works in Malleswaram Zone here on Saturday.
Mr. Yeddyurappa said the state-of-the-art Dhobi Ghat was the first of its kind in the country. He said that the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had increased its expenditure over the years. “In 2003-04, the budget was just Rs. 310 crore. Now, the budget has increased to around Rs. 2,400 crore. Various projects and works have been taken up by the civic agency with an aim to improve the quality of amenities available for the citizens,” he said.
He said the civic agency had already developed 625 parks, while 225 more would soon be taken up. He also said that 4,800 slum dwellers have been given title deeds, while 1,500 homes for the under-privileged were being constructed. In the Malleswaram zone, four slums were making way for residential localities with all amenities at a cost of Rs. 79 lakhs.
“We are taking up several works and development programmes. There are certain groups who are trying to curtail the speed at which these programmes are being implemented. However, we will persevere and work hard towards making Bangalore a model city,” he added.
Malleswaram MLA C.N. Ashwath Narayan said that several projects had been taken up to develop the Assembly constituency, including the setting up of nine public libraries, seven health centres, improvement of the Malleswaram Fruit and Vegetable Market, development of playgrounds. He said that major roads in the constituency would be converted to signal-free corridors, while five railway under-bridges would also be constructed. As many as 36,000 people were getting old age, widow and handicap pension. He also said that 60 per cent of the population was economically backward, though only 10 per cent had Below Poverty Line cards. “We hope to cover at least 50 per cent of the economically backward and provide them BPL cards.”
Dr. Narayan urged the Chief Minister to provide lands for the construction of Ashraya homes for the economically backward from the constituency. “The resident welfare associations have an important role to play in local governance. We hope to form one RWA for every 250 homes.”
The works that were inaugurated by the Chief Minister include the construction of an under-bridge at Navrang Junction, Vivekananda College Junction and the 10th Cross Junction on Dr. Rajkumar Road for Rs. 28.45 crore; widening of Sankey Road at Rs. 33.20 crore; renovation of the Malleswaram playground and pit ground at Rs. 3.20 crore; development of Vyalikaval playground at Rs. 2.5 crore; construction of 312 houses under 18 per cent subsidy scheme at Rs. 10 crore; renovation of the Harishchandra Ghat crematorium at Rs. 1.15 crore; inauguration of the modernised Dhobi Ghat, rainwater harvesting facility and water recycling plant at Malleswaram at Rs. 2.20 crore; inauguration of the day care centre for senior citizens at Subramanyanagar, and construction of BBMP building at 11th Main at Rs. 1.5 crore.
