Bengaluru: In the backdrop of Bengaluru bagging the ‘Smart City’ tag, after missing it two consecutive times, urban experts from the city have welcomed the development.
On the other hand, they have also advised BBMP that focus should be on the using the funds in an appropriate manner.
Civic evangelist Ravichandar told Deccan Chronicle, “This is not a generic proposal but a specific one. The focus should now be on the implementation of the project.”
He further added that if the historic K.R. Market is improved under the Smart City banner, then that can be replicated to developing other heritage markets such as Johnson Market and Russel Market.
“The successful implementation of the project in one area will become a template for other projects in other areas as well,” Ravichander said.
Srinivas Alavilli, coordinator of Citizens for Bengaluru, said though he was not a big fan of the labels like ‘Smart City’ he is happy with the city getting the tag. “However, I believe the funds should be directed at improving the transport, dealing with the garbage problem and many more fundamental issues rather than spending it on fancy things which do not concern common people. Any project that gets the funds to improve the city is welcome,” he observed.
Kathyayini Chamaraj of Civic Bangalore said that bad accounts and poor governance of the state government were the reasons behind the city not bagging the Smart City title previously.
“The entire fund of Rs 1,700 crore should be spent on making the city slum free. Proper housing with sewage facilities would ensure that the lakes are clean, otherwise we would again go back to square one,” she added.
On the issue of waste disposal system, she elaborated, “The BBMP can take up city-wide projects for mechanising the entire garbage collection system, so that there is no manual handling. An infrastructure is needed to set up local processing sites so that there is no transportation of garbage to villages."
