Big money for Bengaluru
Karnataka State cabinet sanctioned an amount of 8038 crores for next three years, for various development works in Bengaluru. As of now, about 1200 crores have been sanctioned for whitetopping, while rejuvenation of Bellandur lake got Rs 350 crores.
Meanwhile BBMP continues to burn money on projects that have no explanation, like an unused library and a quarters that doesn’t belong to BBMP. The Court Commissioners appointed by the High Court pointed out to the substandard quality of BBMP’s understanding of engineering, in its report. The High Court rapped the BBMP. In other news, BBMP has decided to name and shame those who haven’t paid property tax.
Source: The New Indian Express | Bangalore Mirror | The Hindu
No space to dump waste
Belahalli quarry that is taking 50% of the waste from BBMP limits is going to be filled in another two months. But BBMP hasn’t finalised an alternate spot yet for Bengaluru’s waste to go. Some fear a garbage crisis because of this.
However, BBMP’s Joint Commissioner for Solid Waste Management Sarfaraz Khan says the landfill won’t be shut for another six months. He says there is a portion of the same quarry kept unutilised, which would be used once the main quarry gets filled up. BBMP already has a plan in place for the filled quarry. The landfill would be converted to a bike racing track for the motor bike enthusiasts.
Source: Deccan Herald | Bangalore Mirror
Three fatal accidents
It was a bad week for Bengaluru, with three people getting killed by BMTC buses. First it was two pre-university college students waiting to cross the road, hit by a BMTC bus on Mysore Road, allegedly due to brake failure. Next, a biker was killed near KR Puram while trying to overtake the bus from the left side. The driver has been accused of rash driving and has been arrested. BMTC swung into damage control mode by announcing that they would check all the brakes in all BMTC buses within 15 days.
Meanwhile, BMTC has started issuing daily passes through Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETM). Strangely this has become the cause of traffic jams! The conductors are forced to stop the bus on the roadside in unscheduled stops, when the ETM gets stuck. sells 54,000 daily passes every morning.
Source: The Hindu | News Minute | Bangalore Mirror
Namma Metro to shut for repairs
Gear up for a Metro shut down on purple line, from December 28th night to December 30th, as honeycomb-affected Metro pillar would be repaired and maintenance work would be undertaken near Trinity Circle.
BMRCL has planned a four-lane road over the Tin Factory flyover junction above the Metro lines to mitigate traffic jams. Meanwhile, BMRCL cancelled the tender called for Metro on Outer Ring Road, as the frontrunner IL&FS ran into internal troubles, indicating further delay in the already delayed Metro project. Re-tendering will take four to six months.
Source: Times of India | The New Indian Express
(Compiled by Shree D N)