CM announces budget worth crores for Bengaluru’s development

BENGALURU: BS Yediyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka, announced that the government has decided to allocate Rs 7,795 crore for the development of Bengaluru city in Karnataka’s Budget 2021-22. Mentioning that Bengaluru is an extremely fast-growing city in the world, he said that his government has decided to give priority to provide required infrastructural facilities and excellent quality of life. He said that it was a matter of pride for the state that Bengaluru topped the Ease of Living Index released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.

The CM, in his address, said that the state is also set to implement the “Bengaluru Mission 2022-Bengalurige Navachaitanya” programme, which will formulate an easy transport facility, scientific waste disposal, augmentation of green cover, and excellent service facilities. He said, “Our government is also committed to provide better health and education facilities.” Yediyurappa also announced a grant of Rs 850 crore for the Bengaluru suburban rail project and said that completion of the second terminal building of the Kempegowda International Airport will increase the maximum annual passenger capacity to 60 million.

Yediyurappa informed that the state government is currently implementing the K-100 project, with the goal of developing Koramangala Valley as a tourist attraction at an expenditure of Rs 169 crore. In the budget, the government has also proposed conversion of the land belonging to Mysore Lamps Works Limited in Malleshwaram, Bengaluru to Experience Bengaluru Centre, which will depict the culture of Karnataka. He also mentioned another proposal put forward by the government on the development of Tree Parks in NGEF, Byappanahalli, and in three other locations.

The CM also mentioned ongoing road construction of a 65-km long and 100-m wide peripheral ring road to reduce traffic congestion around the city of Bengaluru. He said that the Government of Karnataka is awaiting approval from the Government of India on the construction of a 58.2 km long Outer Ring Road in Bengaluru, the cost of which is being estimated at Rs 14,788 crore. He added that actions to rejuvenate and upgrade 248 million litres per day capacity of Sewage Treatment Plant of Kormangala Valley has been initiated in collaboration with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) through Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board, at an estimated expenditure of Rs 450 crores.

Karnataka’s budget this year proposed establishment of a separate company for better management of the collection, transportation, and processing of solid waste generated in Bengaluru, along with construction of a new multi-specialty hospital in North Bengaluru for poor and migrant workers. Yediyurappa mentioned the expenditure of Rs 10 crore in 57 wards of BBMP, estimated expenditure of Rs 33 crore in setting up of ‘Janargoya” Centre, and Rs 2 crores for conducting literary and cultural programmes every weekend at the Mallathahalli Kala Grama in Bengaluru.