Govt gives nod to two Rs 691cr urban renewal projects in Bangalore

New Delhi, Nov 24 (UNI) The Urban Development Ministry today gave its approval for two Rs 691 crore projects of Bangalore Mahanagar Palika (BMP) under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM) for undertaking a major revamp and modernisation of storm water drain and three underpasses in the city.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee and Bangalore City Corporation Commissioner K Jayaraj.

The first project involves improving 300 km rehabilitation and widening of the drains of Bangalore city in four valleys, namely Rishabhavati, Chellaghatta, Hebbal and Koramangala where the storm water is allowed to flow.

The project would help the free flow of rain water through storm water drain during rainy season.

The Centre will provide 35 per cent of the cost (Rs 225 crore), the Karnataka Government 15 per cent (Rs 96 crore) and the BMP 50 per cent (Rs 321 crore).

The second project involves building of three underpasses at the cost of Rs 43.5 crore in Malleshwaram, R V Teachers Colleges and Basavanagudi.

Mr Jayaraj said a Memorandum of Approval has been signed while a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between Centre, Karnataka government, and the BMP after fulfilling certain mandatory reforms to be implemented by the city corporation. These reforms include e-governance, computerisation of key operations to increase efficiency, preparation of specific budgets for the urban poor and implementation of tax reforms.

The BMP was already well on track having implemented all these conditions and there should be no problem on this count, Mr Jayaraj added.

The MoU would be signed after the Karnataka Government gives its nod for reforms delegating the planning function to the urban local bodies, constituting wards to improve participatory management and reducing the stamp duty to five per cent from the present level of 7.5 per cent in the next five years, he said.

Most of these reforms were already under way and this should not be a problem either, he added.

The discussions for NURM funds for Mysore is expected to take place in about ten days, he pointed out.

He said the Centre would depute a team to help the state to prepare a detailed project report for separation of storm water drain from sewage in the second phase at the cost of Rs 1,200 crore.

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