In a victory for apolitical activism by Bengaluru residents, Mayor Sampath Raj approved the detailed reports of three projects in the often neglected Bellandur ward.
During a meeting with more than 40 resident welfare associations and citizens collectives under the aegis of Kasavanahalli Development Forum (KDF), the Mayor informed that funds worth Rs 25 crore would be cleared before the end of August.
The projects that will be covered within this allocation include construction of 40 km of roadside drains, restoration of over 100 km of roads, setting up of street lighting infrastructure in Mahadevpura, and other unfinished projects started by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Special Commissioner. All these projects were identified and conceptualised by the citizens, who were frustrated with governmental inaction.
Vishnu Prasad, president of KDF, said, “We had more than 50 representatives from resident welfare associations right from Carmelaram to Doddakannelli, Kaikondrahalli, Kasavanahalli, and Bellandur main road to Yemlur. The Mayor announced during the meeting that tenders will be called in 10 days and the funds will be released in two phases.”
The residents of the IT hub also expressed their gratitude to Mahadevapura Zone Chief Engineer Parameshwaraiah who led a team of zonal and ward level officials to draft the detailed project report and frame budgets with due consultation with locals.
This after the residents of the entire locality drafted a Bellandur Development Resolution (BDR) highlighting the neglect faced by the ward from the respective BBMP councils and the state government despite being a high contributor of tax compared to other neighbourhoods.
In a recent press release, KDF had said that the special economic zone on the Outer Ring Road in Bengaluru alone contributes to 12% of IT Services GDP for the country and 30% of Karnataka’s IT revenues.
Other than the approved projects, other issues highlighted in the BDR – primarily the public transport plan regarding arterial roads, public buses, metro and suburban rail – were also taken up with the Mayor.
The Mayor said that those issues will be discussed in a meeting with Deputy CM and Bengaluru Minister G Parameshwara as most of them fall outside the ambit of the BBMP council.
In a bid to fast-track the metro and suburban railway, the residents had earlier met Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan who had assured them that he would try to accommodate the BTM to KR Puram and Iblur to Carmelaram lines in Phase-II of Namma Metro instead of Phase-III.
"In another boost, IT major Wipro said that they will partner with the government bodies for the betterment of civic amenities. They have said that they will come with us for a meeting with BMRCL and the Deputy CM,” Vishnu added.