The city will soon see a pilot project on the ambitious pod transport method, which is being aggressively pushed by the State government.
According to City Development Minister K.J. George, the decision on allowing a private company to pilot a demonstration project free of cost could be taken in the next 15 days.
Speaking at an interaction with employees of the Embassy Golf Links Business Park on Monday, Mr. George said: “The tender floated by BBMP will end in 10 days. We expect to take a decision in 15-20 days.”
The interaction, attended by Information Technology and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge as well as heads of BBMP, BWSSB, and BDA, saw several issues being raised by IT professionals employed in the park. However, the discussion quickly progressed into Mr. George having to defend his government’s stance on several projects, which have been the subject of controversy.
He cited projects such as the elevated corridor, pod-transport, steel flyover and road widening projects as being absolutely essential for the development of the city. “We are also against cutting of trees. But don’t tell me that development can happen without cutting trees. Those who are protesting against trees being cut today have in the past filed affidavits before courts stating that tree cutting was the only way to progress. It is not that we will not plant trees for those that are cut. We will grow more trees,” he said, when asked about the planned chopping of trees along Palace Grounds road.
Discussing the issue of safety in the city during night hours, the Minister said that a pilot project to install CCTV cameras was being undertaken in his constituency. “There is another pilot running in Basavanagudi as well. If it is successful, we will emulate it across the city,” he said. When an audience member tried to compare Bengaluru with Mumbai in terms of lesser power cuts in the port city, Mr. George dismissed him by saying that Mumbai had several civic issues which Bengaluru did not face. “Don’t talk about Mumbai. Marine Drive is nice, but you go inside a little and you will see. Bengaluru is the best city,” he said.
The interaction on Monday with corporate employees was the first one held by this government. There will be more such meetings in the next few months, Mr. George said. “We are even trying to get the Chief Minister to attend one of these meetings,” he said.
