By 2031, the population of Bangalore Metropolitan Region is expected to more than double from 9.1 million in 2011 to 20.3 million. The city is expanding at the rate of 39 sq. km a year in peripheral areas, which are not served by good road networks and other infrastructure.
“There is a need to increase the public transport share from the current 48% to 70% and enhance accessibility and mobility of people which is a pre-requisite for more liveable and resilient city. In this regard, huge investments are being made to expand the mass transit systems — metro rail and commuter rail in Bengaluru,” states the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) in its draft Transit Oriented Development (TOD) policy released on Wednesday.
To ensure effective implementation of projects under the TOD, the draft policy talks about reviving the Bangalore Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) and empowering it through a comprehensive Act, financial assistance, and staff support so that it can play the role of a unified metropolitan transport authority (UMTA).
Though the BMLTA exists, it remains inactive. It was created in 2007, but failed to live up to its goals. The draft transport policy proposes that the BMLTA come out with policy formation, project preparations and approvals, strategic planning and programming, funding and others to oversee the implementation of projects under TOD. The policy also states that the BMLTA shall come out with recommendations on regulating private vehicles through appropriate policies.
Financing projects
The policy lists different options for financing projects under the TOD, such as levying 5% cess on the market value of land or property on the landlord or property owner under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act. This can be credited to the proposed metro infrastructure fund. The fund shall be shared by BMRCL, BWSSB and BDA at 65%, 20% and 15% respectively.
Other financing sources include allowing BMRCL to issue TDRs in lieu of compensation for land acquisition for metro projects and discouraging private vehicles by levying more cess on registration.
