Yogesh K Porwar
*”Work as one team to fix Bengaluru’s civic systems,” Minister tells officials.
*8,000 crore to be spent on improving 2,500 km of roads through CMIDP, SSIP and white-topping works.
*Pothole survey and repairs ordered for all arterial and sub-arterial roads.
*Remaining 200 km of stormwater drains to be developed at ₹2,000 crore.
*Monthly ministerial reviews to monitor civic works and grievance redressal.
The Karnataka government is undertaking road improvement works covering 2,500 km across Bengaluru at an estimated cost of ₹8,000 crore,with works including asphalt resurfacing and white-topping,Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said on Thursday.
The Minister directed officials to expedite the road works, ensure quality and closely monitor execution, while also ordering an immediate survey and repair of potholes on the city’s arterial and sub-arterial roads.
Reviewing development works and civic programmes being undertaken across the five municipal corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority at the Council Hall,the Minister said the priority must be to move from reacting to civic problems to fixing the systems that create them.
“Dysfunction has become the norm in the city. We have to change that. If officials and the government work together as one team, nothing is impossible. Let us work as one team to improve Bengaluru,” he said.
8,000 crore road programme to cover 2,500 km:
The Minister said road improvement works covering approximately 2,500 km are being taken up at a cost of ₹8,000 crore under various programmes, including CMIDP, SSIP and white-topping projects.
He directed officials to accelerate the civil works already taken up, maintain strict quality standards and conduct continuous field-level monitoring.
“Officials must work with dedication and complete the works without giving excuses.The quality of the work must be non-negotiable he said.
The Minister also directed officials to ensure that centre-line markings are provided on roads wider than four metres,noting that while markings are being provided on the sides of several newly developed roads, centre-line markings are often being missed.
Pothole survey ordered for arterial and sub-arterial roads:
With potholes continuing to be a major concern for motorists, the Minister directed officials to undertake a comprehensive survey of potholes on all arterial and sub-arterial roads and repair them on priority.
“Once potholes on the major roads are addressed, the focus will shift to ward roads,”he said.
Rs.2,000 crore to develop remaining 200 km of stormwater drains.
Bengaluru has approximately 840 km of stormwater drains (rajakaluves) within the GBA limits,of which around 640 km have already been developed.
The remaining 200 km will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs.2,000 crore, the Minister said. The programme will be formally launched by the Chief Minister.
The Minister also directed officials to construct shoulder drains wherever required so that rainwater flowing onto roads can drain smoothly into the stormwater drainage network.
*Citizens should not have to keep visiting government offices”.
The Minister said improving governance systems should be as much a priority as physical infrastructure.
“Citizens should not have to keep visiting government offices to get their problems resolved. If the system works properly, many problems can be resolved at the local level itself,” he said.
He announced that he would hold a monthly review meeting at the ministerial level to monitor progress. The Additional Chief Secretary and Chief Commissioner will also conduct regular reviews and issue specific directions to officials.
“Only when officials perform effectively can we provide better governance. When the administration responds properly, citizens too will respond positively,” he said.
Sahaaya 2.0 to be upgraded; 73,985 complaints resolved.
The Minister directed officials to strengthen the grievance redressal mechanism under Sahaaya 2.0 and ensure that complaints are resolved within a reasonable timeframe.
So far, citizens have registered 75,152 complaints through Sahaaya 2.0, of which 73,985 have been resolved, while 1,152 remain pending.
He said some complaints were taking longer than expected to resolve and directed officials to dispose of them quickly.
The Minister also ordered a re-examination of certain complaints marked as resolved by senior officials and sought a report on their actual status.
“Sahaaya 2.0 needs to become more effective. We will upgrade the system, consult citizens after the upgrade and incorporate the changes required to make grievance redressal faster and more effective,” he said.
Streetlight contractors to face penalties:
The Minister directed officials to immediately replace faulty streetlights and accelerate the installation of LED streetlights across the city.
Contractors who fail to perform their work properly will be penalised, he said.
*Property tax collection crosses ₹3,382 crore.
The five municipal corporations under the GBA have a property tax collection target of ₹6,700 crore for the current financial year.
So far, ₹3,382 crore, or 50.48% of the target, has been collected.
The Minister directed officials to accelerate the collection of outstanding property tax, particularly from long-term defaulters and cases involving tax reassessment.
Revenue officials who fail to make adequate progress will be issued notices he said.
Footpath encroachments cleared along 1,175 km:
Encroachment clearance drives have so far been carried out along footpaths covering 1,175 km of roads.
The Minister directed officials to expedite clearance on the remaining roads and ensure that cleared footpaths are not encroached upon again.
He also directed officials to take up footpath development simultaneously with encroachment clearance, rather than leaving cleared stretches undeveloped.
On roads measuring 40 feet or less, footpaths should be constructed without making them unnecessarily high, he added.
”Freedom from Waste” campaign to be intensified:
The Minister directed ward-level officials to ensure effective implementation of the “Freedom from Waste” campaign across Bengaluru.
He called for the removal of even small quantities of waste found along roadsides and footpaths and stressed that ward officials must take responsibility for keeping their areas clean.
*Other directions by the Minister*
The Minister also issued the following directions:
*Expedite approval of pending e-Khata applications.
*Speed up the process of converting B-Khatas to A-Khatas, wherever eligible.
*Further accelerate white-topping works.
*Ensure construction materials at work sites are stored without obstructing pedestrians.
*Monitor all ongoing works continuously and maintain prescribed quality standards.
Additional Chief Secretary,Tushar Giri Nath,Chief Commissioner,Maheshwar Rao,Special Commissioners, Muneesh Moudgil and Nithesh,Municipal Commissioners,Ramesh D.S,Pommala Sunil Kumar, Ramesh K.N,G.Jagadeesh,and Dr.Rajendra K.V., Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Corporation CEO Karigowda,along with Additional Commissioners,Joint Commissioners,engineers, revenue officials, health officers and officials from various departments were present at the meeting.
