Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appears to be bracing up for elections to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). On Friday, he went around the city inspecting civil works. He directed officials to speed up the works and improve infrastructure.
The entourage travelled in an air-conditioned bus. After making seven stops, Mr Siddaramaiah said that he would inspects different parts of the city every week. Although, he had in November 2013 promised to tour the city every month, he failed to follow-up.
When asked if inspections would continue even after the elections, he said it would continue until an elected body is formed.
During his visit, he set deadlines for some of the ongoing projects. He also said that projects that have been approved must begin and completed on a fast-track basis. Asking officials to act swiftly, he said that there is a need for potholes to be filled, debris to be removed from roads, particularly where the Namma Metro work is in progress, garbage disposal to be made more efficient and ensuring that all street lights are functional by the end of the month.
In a firm tone, he told officials to ensure that roads, footpaths and drains get a facelift. “We want to deliver quality infrastructure to Bengaluru,” he said and blamed the previous BJP-led BBMP council for the poor infrastructure in the city.
Mr. Siddaramaiah said work on the Okalipuram eight-lane signal-free corridor would begin in 15 days. Secondly, six garbage processing units would be set up in two months. He also said that two projects were taken up at the Gali Anjeneya temple to prevent flooding during monsoon.
He said that three elevated corridors would be constructed to decongest the core areas. At the flyover at Rajajinagar 10 cross on West of Chord Road, he urged officials to prepare an estimate for an underpass.
Mr. Siddaramiah said that his next tour would be on May 23.
V. Ravichandar, urban expert, said, “The basic principle of Tender SURE was built around the pedestrian. The CM’s statement has come as a setback. But one still hopes that in the future, pedestrians get footpaths that are wider than what we currently get.”
