By Pavan Srinath
Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy did not simply provide the cheap with provisions for Bengaluru the day prior to this, he gave a budgetary glimpse of this executive’s vision for the town. The CM unveiled a spending plan of Rs 1.2 lakh crore on Bengaluru's infrastructure. If performed over the following five years, this alone may just entail 10% of the state’s budgetary assets over time. Compared to cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, Bengaluru has under-invested in infrastructure during the last decade, and this promise, if upheld, is motion in the best course. However, what's recently noticed as this executive’s vision for the capital town can each worry and enthuse the town’s residents.
The town’s dependancy for increased expressways and corridors has been given a massive fillip within the price range, however thankfully complemented by way of plans to introduce suburban rail and enlarge metro rail services and products. Buses alone have been missing from this presentation, with the previous executive’s plan of doubling the bus fleet of BMTC now not followed up on. Many things that civic activists and concrete thinkers had been recommending has been mentioned within the price range speech – from pedestrianising roads like Church Street and Commercial Street, to making plans integrated transit programs for Bangalore's thousands and thousands of commuters.
Amidst the announcements for Bangalore's water and sanitation infrastructure, it's heartening to see a mention of a pilot on Faecal sludge control. 'Honeysuckers' have long serviced septic tanks and condo STPs in Bangalore, with a flourishing informal market that converts human waste into reasonably priced fertilizers for farmers around the town. It is top time that the government recognised this and formally integrated the theory along sewerage solutions for Karnataka's cities.
Overall, present and future allocation of budgetary assets are welcome for Bengaluru's infrastructure. But for budgets to grow to be real solutions, excellent, consultative making plans is essential. One hopes that the town's active public is integrated in making plans how very best to rejuvenate the much-touted Brand Bengaluru. The town has the largest organised civil society outside New Delhi, and led urban reforms within the country two decades ago. We have a chance to steer again, each with investments and reforms. If this opportunity gets squandered, we may get saddled with tonnes of imperfect and incomplete infrastructure, lost trees, extra congestion and extra pollution.
(The author is a public policy researcher and host of the Thale-Harate Kannada Podcast)
Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy did not simply provide the cheap with provisions for Bengaluru the day prior to this, he gave a budgetary glimpse of this executive’s vision for the town. The CM unveiled a spending plan of Rs 1.2 lakh crore on Bengaluru's infrastructure. If performed over the following five years, this alone may just entail 10% of the state’s budgetary assets over time. Compared to cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, Bengaluru has under-invested in infrastructure during the last decade, and this promise, if upheld, is motion in the best course. However, what's recently noticed as this executive’s vision for the capital town can each worry and enthuse the town’s residents.
The town’s dependancy for increased expressways and corridors has been given a massive fillip within the price range, however thankfully complemented by way of plans to introduce suburban rail and enlarge metro rail services and products. Buses alone have been missing from this presentation, with the previous executive’s plan of doubling the bus fleet of BMTC now not followed up on. Many things that civic activists and concrete thinkers had been recommending has been mentioned within the price range speech – from pedestrianising roads like Church Street and Commercial Street, to making plans integrated transit programs for Bangalore's thousands and thousands of commuters.
Amidst the announcements for Bangalore's water and sanitation infrastructure, it's heartening to see a mention of a pilot on Faecal sludge control. 'Honeysuckers' have long serviced septic tanks and condo STPs in Bangalore, with a flourishing informal market that converts human waste into reasonably priced fertilizers for farmers around the town. It is top time that the government recognised this and formally integrated the theory along sewerage solutions for Karnataka's cities.
Overall, present and future allocation of budgetary assets are welcome for Bengaluru's infrastructure. But for budgets to grow to be real solutions, excellent, consultative making plans is essential. One hopes that the town's active public is integrated in making plans how very best to rejuvenate the much-touted Brand Bengaluru. The town has the largest organised civil society outside New Delhi, and led urban reforms within the country two decades ago. We have a chance to steer again, each with investments and reforms. If this opportunity gets squandered, we may get saddled with tonnes of imperfect and incomplete infrastructure, lost trees, extra congestion and extra pollution.
(The author is a public policy researcher and host of the Thale-Harate Kannada Podcast)
Bengaluru's large, organised civil society must lead urban reforms
![Bengaluru's large, organised civil society must lead urban reforms]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
February 14, 2019
Rating:
