Whitetopping of roads, legacy waste disposal get lion's share in Budget for Bengaluru

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah presents the first state Budget of his government in Assembly, in Bengaluru, Friday, July 7, 2023. Credit: PTI Photo

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday presented the state Budget with a total outlay of Rs 3.27 lakh crore for the year 2023-24. "Approximately Rs 12,000 crore will be spent through various schemes such as 'Amruta Nagarotthana', High-Density Corridor, road white-topping, solid-waste management, encroachment removal and repairs of canals (Rajakaluves), filling of potholes, etc., for the development of Bengaluru," he said while announcing a few new projects.

A part of the grant has also been set aside for Namma Metro and Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project.

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During his speech, the Chief Minister promised to take up the long-pending peripheral ring road project by clearing all legal hurdles and also submit the detailed project report (DPR) of the 37-km Hebbal-Sarjapura road Metro line to the Government of India for approval. The 37-km corridor is estimated to cost Rs 15,000 crore.

Here’s the full list of allocations for Bengaluru:

*Rs 1,411 crore to the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for upgrading 20 Sewage Treatment Plants by March, 2026.

*Rs 263 crore for the construction of a new flyover to provide access to Sir M. Visveswaraya Terminal at Baiyappanahalli.

*Rs 800 crore for white-topping 100 kms of major roads.

*Rs 273 crore for the development of 83 km of high density corridors such as Old Madras road, Ballari road, Tumkur road etc

*Rs 1,000 crore for the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project

*Rs 1,250 crore for effective disposal of legacy waste, liquid waste management and to control the flow of pollutants into rivers and lakes

*Rs 100 crore for Indira Canteens

*Rs 100 crore for the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Corporation Limited (BSWMCL) to collect, treat and dispose waste in a scientific and sustainable manner.

*The government also plans to mobilise Rs.1,000 crore through green bonds for infrastructure development in urban areas.

*Rs 10 crore each for Regional Basketball Training Centre in Bengaluru

*The Budget has also proposed 5 Traffic Police Stations and 6 women police stations to be set up in Bengaluru city. A total of 2,454 posts to be created in 2 phases.

*Rs 5 crores to set up fully automated and centralised blood bank management system in Bengaluru Medical College and Research Institute