Corporates roped in to fix Bengaluru city’s woes
Bengaluru: In a bid to improve the city amenities and congestion of the traffic, the government is planning to encourage the corporate sector to spend their CSR funds on city infrastructure.
As a first step, the Embassy group would construct a fly-over between Beerannana Palya and Nagavara near Manyata tech park to de-congest the traffic at Hebbal fly-over junction. In addition, the company would be constructing three skywalks on BIA road, while two more would be constructed by one more company.
After a meeting with BDA officials and Embassy group Chairman Jitu Virvani here on Friday, Bengaluru City Minister K.J. George said that it was beginning of the government involving the corporate sector in construction of city infrastructure. “They will spend the money under guidance of government,”' Mr George said. He also said that the Prestige group had come forward to clean up and maintain the Ulsoor lake.
Answering a question, Mr George said the government was concentrating on filling the potholes and streamlining the city roads, before encouraging the Corporates to take up infrastructure projects in the city. The government had taken up Rs 1,000 crore project to improve city roads, including filling up of the potholes, he said.
To encourage car pooling
The government was also contemplating to encourage car pooling among the employees of the same company.
Task force for garbage
Welcoming the Karnataka High Court direction to segregate garbage, Mr George said that he had directed the BBMP to set up a task force to ensure that people did segregate garbage at source itself. “We need cooperation from everyone, including people. In many places, people simply dump garbage in corner of the streets. We will install secret cameras to hold such people accountable,” he said.
Rs 50 crore for flyover, no toll
Mike Holland, CEO of Embassy Office parks said that as part of CSR initiative and to improve the city infrastructure it has decided to build a flyover and a skywalk on the Outer Ring Road, which would benefit those working in Manyata Tech park and those residing near it. Embassy will be spending Rs 50 crore towards the construction of flyover between Manyata Tech Park and Hebbal flyover, stretching about 850 metres along the ORR. Rs 20 crore will be spent on skywalks.
Free access to Ulsoor lake
The Prestige Group has stated that the company would maintain and beautify the Ulsoor lake and it would be accessible to the people free of cost. “Ulsoor lake is an asset for the city as many people go there for their morning jog and walks. Hence the need to beautify and maintain the lake is crucial,” said Uzma Irfan, Additional Director, Prestige Group.
The lake however would be accessible to all the people. “It will be free of charge for the people. It is just that we will clean, maintain and beautify the lake,” Uzma clarified. However the group needs to approach the Lake Development Authority (LDA) with a detailed plan.
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