Bengaluru figured as a prominent priority of the Karnataka government in the 12th state budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Stating that the government has been successful in transforming Bengaluru into a dynamic and model city, Siddarmaiah announced a slew of policies for the city in his Rs 1.86 lakh crore budget.
From road transport to infrastructure development to lake development and more, the budget has addressed a number of issues raised by the citizens of Bengaluru in the past year.
Here are the highlights of the budget and what it means for the city of Bengaluru.
For traffic woes
1) BMTC to induct 3000 more buses, out of which 150 will be run on electricity. 50 electric buses for Mysuru. The CM said that the government's goal was to make Bengaluru the ‘Electric Vehicle Capital of India.'
2) For decongestion of traffic in Bengaluru city, PWD to develop 150 km of roads through the Karnataka Road Development Corporation at a cost of Rs 1455 crore.
3) With the controversial steel bridge shelved, budget proposes widening of Hebbal flyover and construction of an under bridge at a cost of Rs 88 crore.
4) ‘Bicycles on hire’ scheme to be taken up in select clusters of Bengaluru city.
5) Development of Silk Board and KR Puram junctions in collaboration with BMRCL.
Bangalore Water Supply & Sewerage Board
Focusing on reducing quantum of unaccounted-for water (UFW) to 40% by the end of this year, the state budget has also proposed a number of water supply schemes.
1) Rs 1,886 crore allotted for supplying drinking water to 110 villages in Bengaluru.
2) 9 sewage treatment plants to be set up under Megacity and Amrut Schemes at a cost of Rs 1338 crores.
3) The budget also proposes to waive off pending bills of slum dwellers living in 30x20 sites and to supply free water of upto 10,000 litres per month to them.
4) Rejuvenation of Tippagondanahalli Reservoir to be taken up.
Urban Development
1) Rs 400 crore grant for Chennai-Bengaluru-Chitradurga Industrial corridor.
2) Improved pedestrian facility on 43 main roads in the city that extend to 80 km length, at a cost of Rs 690 crore. Another Rs 200 crore has been set aside for developing footpaths on various roads of 200 km length.
3) Rs 250 crores for the comprehensive upgradation of 25 interconnected roads of 25km length in the Central Business District, under the third stage of the Tender Sure model.
4) Rs 150 crore allotted for the development and maintenance of 12 high traffic density corridors.
5) The state budget has also allocated Rs 300 crore for the development of storm water drains under the BBMP limits. The BBMP will also get another Rs 80 crore for Viability Gap Funding (a one-time grant to make infrastructure projects financially viable) in skywalk construction through the PPP model.
5) With a cost of Rs 100 crore, 198 Namma Canteens will be set up in 198 wards that fall under the BBMP limits.
Namma Metro
1) Phase-1: The entire track length of 42.3 km of the first phase project to be completed by April 2017.
2) Phase-2: Reach-4 extension (from Puttenahalli to Anjanapura) and Reach-2 extension (from Mysore road to Kengeri) works under progress.
3) Under Bengaluru Metro Rail Project Phase-2A, an additional new line (17 kms length) from Silk Board to K.R.Puram junction, to be funded through innovative financing. Project to be initiated at a cost of Rs 4,200 crores.
Bangalore Development Authority
1) Development of Innovative Township spanning 166 acres in Konadasapura village.
2) Construction and allotment of 3,000 flats; allotment of 5,000 sites in Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout.
3) 10.7 km of major arterial road connecting Mysore Road and Magadi Road through Kempegowda Layout will be constructed at a cost of Rs 350 crores.
4) The state budget has also earmarked Rs 42 crore for the comprehensive development of 10 lakes in the city, including the Varthur and Bellandur lakes.
Other proposals
1) Development of 150 km of roads in and around Bengaluru through KRDCL at an estimated cost of Rs 1,455 crores.
2) Construction work of International Level Science Gallery in Bengaluru to be commenced at an estimated cost of Rs.30 crores.
4) Establishment of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Centre at IIIT, Bengaluru, at a cost of Rs.5 crores.
5) Renovation of Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain in Bengaluru with new technology and rain proof shelter.
6) Construction of a new hospital of the Karnataka Institute of Endocrinology in Indiranagar, Bengaluru at an estimated cost of Rs 35 crores.
7) Setting up of Institute of Dermatology in the premises of the Tuberculosis Hospital, Bengaluru, at an estimated cost of Rs10 crore
8) Steps to make the Special Children Court child-friendly and construction of a court at Bengaluru Urban District at an estimated cost of Rs.4 crores.
9) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Bhavan will be constructed in Bengaluru at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crores.