Civic body’s junction makeover plans may yet get a new lifeline

Cash-strapped BBMP still hopeful builders’ associations will pitch in

After receiving flak over aesthetics, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike will vet plans by firms to ‘beautify’ circles and junctions. Photo: G.R.N. Somashekar

Several traffic junctions across the city are in a bad shape and in dire need of attention and the cash-strapped Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had earlier sounded out real estate developers to foot the bill. Though several developers had evinced interest, the project lost steam and was put on the backburner.

Recently, the BBMP once again revived this project and had sought expression of interest (EoI) from builders to give a makeover for 100 junctions in the city.

The last date was January 16 but members of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (Credai), Bangalore, met BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah and senior officials on Wednesday and urged them to extend the deadline by a month.

One more month

A BBMP source said that the developers, represented by Credai president R. Nagaraj Reddy, maintained that if the deadline is extended, more developers will be able to submit their proposals. Following their request, the BBMP agreed to extend it till February 15.

“There are more than 200 important junctions in the city. Of these, around 100 have been listed for this improvement project. The list will be given to Credai and it has to take a call on which junction should be improved by whom,” the source said.

The source added that once that is decided, the developers’ body is expected to submit its concept and plans, which will have to be vetted and approved by the Major Road Department and the Special Commissioner.

Widely reviled

This vetting move comes in the wake of the widely reviled statues slapped together by a cement company at four junctions in the core city area: Mehkri Circle, Cantonment Railway Station Circle, Race Course Road and Basaveshwara Junction. Several citizens had then questioned the aesthetics of these erections. “Following this, the Commissioner has directed the officials to verify and look into the plans before approving them,” the source added.

A senior official said that other than junction improvement, the BBMP had also called for EoI for the improvement and development of parks, lakes, roads, medians and footpaths. The EoI proposals would be scrutinised on January 18, the official added.