The State government’s budget for 2014–15 proposes projects worth Rs. 9,476.86 crore for Bangalore to remove traffic bottlenecks, expand the public transport network, increase water supply lines and create new drainage pathways.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who holds the finance portfolio, has sanctioned Rs. 2,727 crore for these projects. The rest is expected to come through various State government schemes, loans from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and grants under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
BBMP The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will take up projects worth Rs. 2,160 crore for which the government has sanctioned Rs. 1,527 crore under the Nagarothana Scheme, grants from the 13 Finance Commission and State Finance Commission, Lake Development Scheme and Chief Minister’s Special Grant Scheme. The BBMP will have to mobilise the rest through its own resources.
BDA The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will execute projects worth Rs. 7,316.86 crore, most of which will be taken up with JNNURM funds and assistance from JICA. The budget has allocated Rs. 1,200 crore to the BDA to construct an elevated corridor from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal Junction (Rs. 1,100 crore), to develop 39 lakes and for afforestation (Rs. 100 crore).
BWSSB The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is expected to take up several projects, but funds have not been allocated in the budget. The board is expected to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) to supply water to 110 villages in BBMP limits. It will replace 74 km of sewerage lines with 50 per cent funding from the Megacity Revolving Fund of the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (KUIDFC).
The Chief Minister announced that the Peenya–Sampige Road line will be commissioned shortly while Phase 1 of Namma Metro is scheduled for completion by March 2015.
The budget proposes to take up Phase 2, covering 72.1 km and comprising 61 stations, at a cost of Rs. 26,405 crore. The Centre has already given its nod for the same, he added.
