‘Kere Connect Habba’ to create awareness among citizens

 Aiming to make local residents, students responsible for protecting water bodies

‘Kere Connect Habba’ to create awareness among citizens

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: ‘Kere Connect Habba- 2025’ has been launched with the aim of making citizens and children aware of the lakes in the city and informing the locals about the responsibility of the communities in their protection.

‘Kere Connect Habba’ aims to make citizens aware of the importance of lakes in the city, and to provide solutions to local residents to face water security, flood problems and other challenges.

Rapid urbanization has reduced sustainable living with water resources. ‘Kere Connect Habba’ is being celebrated to recreate such a connection. Experts will provide information about biodiversity through this festival. Residents around the respective lakes, associations involved in lake protection, and school children will be brought together and their roles in water protection will be explained.

The ‘Kere Connect Habba’ is being organized by the India Care Foundation in several lakes of the city, along with Friends of Lake, along with many corporate and local organizations. The organizers said that permission has been obtained from the BBMP to celebrate the festival in the lakes.

Permission: Permission has been granted to ‘Kere Connect Habba’ in several lakes of the city to create awareness among the people and to prevent damage to the lake environment. Separate permission is being obtained for celebrating the festival in each lake, said Vijayakumar Haridas, Chief Engineer, Lakes Department, BBMP.

Ganga-Kaveri Aarti for a lake without water flow!

The Srigandhada  Kaval Lake of  near Magadi Road was developed by the BBMP two years ago at a cost of ₹22.4 crore. However, today there is not even a drop of water in this lake. Ganga-Kaveri Aarti is organized in such a lake during the ‘Kere Connect Habba’.

The Srigandhada  Kaval Lake has been developed by the BBMP under the ‘Shubhra Bengaluru’ project and the previous canal route has been changed. Water does not come from the existing inflow. Therefore, despite good rainfall for the last two years, this lake is not filled with even a couple of feet of water.

The Srigandhada  Kaval Lake, which has been constructed unscientifically, is like a ‘hi-tech park’, and the lake has lost its existence due to the lack of inflow.

‘Let the feeling of calling the lake theirs come’

‘The residents around the lake do not even know that the Srigandhada  Kaval Lake is here. Even the children of the schools in the vicinity are not aware of the lake. Therefore, the locals and children should feel that the lake is theirs. They should take responsibility to protect it and keep it clean. Therefore, the ‘Kere Connect Habba’ has been organized on Saturday, March 15 at Srigandhada  Kaval Lake. Various programs have been organized from 7 am to night. We will perform aarti so that water comes to the lake and fills it up even in the next rainy season. ‘Usiru and Team Spotlight organizations will manage the program,’ said Shobha Bhat of Usiru.

Festival at Kaval Lake in Srigandha (Saturday, March 15)

• Lake biodiversity walk
• Children's painting competition
• Stage program
• Information and discussion from experts
• Food from the garden workshop
• Rural games
• Cultural program
• Deepotsava, Ganga-Kaveri Aarti
• Collection of old clothes, old shoes
• Free bag stitching offer if you bring old clothes
• Exhibition stalls on sustainability awareness

BBMP budget to exceed ₹18 thousand crore

 Implementation of mega projects, allocation of funds are in ‘realistic budget’!

BBMP budget to exceed ₹18 thousand crore

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, which has received a large contribution of grants and guarantees through the state government budget, is preparing to present an ‘outline budget’ for the implementation of its mega projects.

BBMP, which will receive an additional grant of ₹4 thousand crore from the state budget from 2025-26, will provide information on which projects it will allocate it, and how the tunnel road project, which has received a guarantee of ₹19 thousand crore, will be implemented. Thus, it is estimated that the BBMP budget will exceed ₹18 thousand crore.

In the last one year, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has announced many projects, including mega projects, including the tunnel road. The feasibility report for the ‘Bengaluru Integrated Traffic Management Project’, which will construct 16 flyovers/underpasses for smooth traffic in the city at a cost of about ₹54,000 crore, is also ready. 

Officials said that the BBMP budget will indicate the funding for 21 projects under the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ concept, including these projects, and the city’s infrastructure projects, their titles and implementation areas. 

There are many doubts among the citizens about the tunnel road project, which is considered the city’s biggest project, at a cost of about ₹40,000 crore. There is also confusion about the implementation process of this project. The budget will provide a clear outline to resolve all this. 

Although the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is ready, the process of inviting tenders for the north-south corridor of the tunnel road has been postponed by four months. Now, the tender process will start only after the budget. The state government's budget clearly states that a 'Special Purpose Vehicle' (SPV) will be set up for the implementation and management of major projects. Thus, the BBMP budget will decide which projects will be managed under the SPV, as well as the procedure for the SPV.

Presentation on 20: 

BBMP budget preparation is in the final stage, all that remains is to hold a meeting with the people's representatives and seek their advice. After this, the budget will be finalized under the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru Development Minister.

Since March 30 and 31 are government holidays, the BBMP budget has to be approved by the government by March 29. Thus, the budget will be presented on March 20 or 21. Sources said that the BBMP, which has received 'financial strength' from the state government, hopes to present a budget that is popular with the people of the city.

Final preparations underway: Harish

‘The preparation of the BBMP budget is in the final stages, and discussions will be held with the city’s ministers and MLAs this week. Suggestions have already been received from the citizens. A ‘real budget’ will be presented, which will include the nature and implementation details of the projects to be undertaken in the city next year,’ said BBMP Finance Special Commissioner Harish Kumar.

BBMP Budget 2024–25

₹ 12,371.63 crore; Total Budget Estimate

₹ 12,369.46 crore; Total Expenditure

₹2.17 crore; Savings

=

BBMP Budget 2023–24

₹11,163 crore; Total Budget Estimate

₹11,157 crore; Total Expenditure

₹6.14 crore; Savings

Government's financial strength for BNG mega projects

 ₹7,000 crore grant every year; Guarantee for tunnel road loan

Government's financial strength for BNG mega projects

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

Bengaluru: The state government, which has provided relief to the financial crunch faced by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to undertake mega projects in the city, has provided financial strength to build tunnel roads and flyovers.

The projects announced in the budget for Bengaluru, including tunnel roads, flyovers, grade separators, and 21 projects under the 'Brand Bengaluru' concept, have been announced frequently in the last budget and subsequent periods. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had also often spoken about government grants and guarantees for mega projects. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced and authorized such projects and grants and loan guarantees in the budget.

Dozens of flyovers and underpasses have been planned to ease traffic in the BBMP area. However, BBMP did not have the financial capacity to spend on them. The corporation had to depend on the ₹3,000 crore provided by the government every year under the ‘Capital Support for Special Infrastructure’ scheme to manage major projects. Hence, there was anxiety when new projects had to be undertaken. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has removed such anxieties, has made everything easier by providing its own grant and loan guarantee for each major project.

The ₹3,000 crore under the ‘Capital Support for Special Infrastructure’ scheme has been increased to ₹7,000 crore. Since it has been said that a ‘Special Purpose Vehicle’ (SPV) will be set up to look after the projects to be managed under this grant, accountability has been fixed. Through this, the projects for which the ₹7,000 crore grant has been allocated will be available under one platform. It is a good plan that the construction of a 120 km long flyover and grader separators will be managed by the SPV.

Furthermore, the city’s much-awaited tunnel road has been given a clear shape in the budget. The BBMP will avoid mortgaging its assets as the government has said that it will guarantee ₹19,000 crore of the ₹40,000 crore required for the East-West and North-South tunnel road corridors. 

The projects under the ‘Brand Bangalore’ concept have been reiterated in the budget. The development of 460 km of road network for which the tender process has been completed has also been proposed. The scheme to provide grants for three years to make the city a city of international health standards can improve the health facilities of the city residents if implemented at least this time. 

Although the sewerage, STP system development, our metro line, and Bangalore Business Corridor projects are all old, the steps taken for their implementation and information on taking loans have been announced and made official in the budget. 

Overall, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s budget for 2025-26 is a joy for Bengaluru. The income of BBMP is in terms of taxes. About four thousand crores are coming from this, and the projects should have been carried out from there. However, from the next financial year, four thousand crores will come mostly from the government, and huge projects will be implemented. The state budget has given a huge contribution to BBMP this time.

Brand Bengaluru: No focus on pothole repair

 The project to plant 2 lakh saplings under the ‘Green Bengaluru’ concept has not been launched

Brand Bengaluru: No focus on pothole repair

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: Although ₹450 crore has been allocated in the budget for 225 wards to repair potholes on roads, potholes on BBMP ward roads continue to increase.

Under the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ concept, works to keep the city’s roads in good condition were also announced in the budget under the ‘Sugama Sanchar Bengaluru’ scheme. Apart from main and sub-main roads, funds were allocated for the development of ward roads. However, potholes remain.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had given a deadline of 15 days to repair potholes before leaving for a foreign trip last September. On this occasion, the Chief Commissioner, Zonal Commissioners, Joint Commissioners and Principal Engineers, including the Chief Commissioner, went out on the roads for a few nights and supervised the repair of potholes. Shivakumar had also submitted a report to him.

Although the main roads are somewhat better, the ward roads are in a very bad condition. The officials keep making excuses that ‘tenders have been called and the repair work will be done’. They are not paying much attention to the repair of the potholes. The repair work will be done only after the tender processes are completed as per its norms and work orders are issued.

‘Exhibition’ in the science laboratory

In the ‘Education Bangalore’ concept, ₹45 crore was allocated in the budget to provide high-tech facilities to BBMP schools. The intention was to set up a computer lab, an information science laboratory, and e-libraries. The school staff themselves are saying that ‘although computers have come to some schools, they have not come with the necessary equipment. Although smart boards have been installed, there is no staff to use them’.

The materials required for the science laboratory have reached some schools. But the consent of senior officials has not been received for their use. Thus, they are arranged like ‘display dolls’. The plan to set up ‘school gardens’ in primary and high schools has not yet been launched.

‘Green Bengaluru’

Under the ‘Green Bengaluru’ scheme, it was intended to green the city by planting two lakh saplings in the city. A scheme was launched in June to give children the responsibility of maintaining saplings during Environment Day. Later, that too failed and all the saplings withered. Tenders have been called for planting and maintaining the saplings at the end of the financial year. The forest department is planning to spend more than ₹3,000 per sapling. However, the bold program of planting lakhs or thousands of saplings has not been done yet.

DCM said engineers cannot be trusted

‘I cannot believe the report given by the engineers. I have repaired my college-age bike and I will inspect the roads on the bike,’ said Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar while inspecting the pothole repair work on major roads for a couple of hours (September 2024). Later, he did not come for inspection. Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath had said, ‘More than a thousand potholes are being created every day. Repair is a continuous process. A pothole-free road is impossible.’ Later, pothole repair has become a priority.

Budget that has not reached the people: Basavaraju

‘Since there are no corporators in BBMP, the budget required by the officials has been presented. It has not reached the common people. Although it is said that thousands of crores have been spent on road work, they have not been able to close the potholes. They are not providing the basic facilities that the people need,’ complained A.H. Basavaraju, former leader of the BBMP ruling party. 

Budget allocation for 2024-25

₹150 crore – Clean Bengaluru

• ₹100 crore – Land acquisition for waste treatment
• ₹10 crore – Public toilets
• ₹10 crore – Solid waste management equipment
• ₹30 crore – Sweeper

₹450 crore for 225 wards

• ₹30 lakh each for drainage, maintenance
• ₹15 lakh each for pothole closure
• ₹25 lakh each for footpath maintenance
• ₹5 lakh each for maintenance of monsoon control room
• ₹1.25 crore each for development works

₹50 crore – Education Bengaluru

(Educational progress programmes, high quality education, uniforms, infrastructure development)

Maximum of 7 Municipal Corporations Instead of BBMP

 Legislative Assembly Joint Scrutiny Committee Report Recommends

Maximum of 7 Municipal Corporations Instead of BBMP

Bengaluru: The Legislative Assembly Joint Scrutiny Committee has submitted its report stating that a maximum of seven municipal corporations should be formed under the ‘Greater Bangalore Administrative Authority’ and the mayor should have a tenure of 30 months.

Committee Chairman Rizwan Arshad presented the report in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

When the ‘Greater Bangalore Administrative Bill-2024’ was introduced in the Legislative Assembly on July 25, 2024, members objected. As they insisted on referring it to a House Committee, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had promised to form a House Committee to examine the bill. Accordingly, the Legislative Assembly Speaker formed a ‘Legislative Assembly Joint Scrutiny Committee’ on August 22, 2024 and appointed Rizwan Arshad as its Chairman.

‘The committee has held discussions with officials from the Urban Development Department, Parliamentary Affairs, Legislative Department, and Law Department. Also, advice has been sought from the MLAs representing the city. Opinions have been received from citizens and organizations, and many changes have been suggested, and a report has been prepared and submitted,’ Rizwan Arshad informed.

No financial power: The ‘Greater Bangalore Authority’ (GBA) cannot have any power regarding the rates of taxes, fees, cesses, and user charges of the municipal corporations. It is an advisory authority and may have the power to take policy-related decisions, the report states.

The committee, which has sought the opinion of the Advocate General on whether the ‘Greater Bangalore Administration Bill’ would be contrary to the 74th Amendment to the Constitution, has suggested that the State Finance Commission’s recommendation should be sought for the distribution of funds among the municipal corporations.

The state government can provide core funds for major projects through the GBA. The administrative expenses of the GBA should be borne by the government. The report states that consultations should be held with the concerned municipal corporations before undertaking major projects.

Key recommendations of the report: 

• * The term of office of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor should be 30 months
• * There should be approximately the same number of wards in the newly created municipal corporations
• * The number of wards in each municipal corporation should not be less than 100
• * Each municipal corporation should start with ‘Bengaluru’. For example: Bangalore East Municipal Corporation, Bangalore West Municipal Corporation, Bangalore South Municipal Corporation
• * A resident of a municipal corporation should be allowed to contest in only one ward
• * After being elected as a municipal corporation member, one cannot change the voter list of a ward of another municipal corporation. If you do so, your membership will be cancelled
• * The Regional Commissioner in the Greater Bangalore Authority should be named as the Chief Commissioner
• * The District Collector and Superintendent of Police should be members in the Greater Bangalore Authority
• * MPs should be considered as members of the authority in the event of voting rights
• * BBMP Act – 2020 should be included in the bill
• * Each standing committee should have a minimum of five and a maximum of 11 corporation members.
• * The term of the ward committee should be limited to 20 months
• * The MLA should be the chairman of the ‘Field Consultation and Coordination Committee’ and the corporation members should be members. The members of the Legislative Council who have votes in the assembly constituency should also be members
• * Tax should be imposed on entertainment programs
• * Property tax should be confiscated after two years of non-payment of arrears, and action should be taken to auction it after one year
• * The power to create private streets should be given to the commissioner from the ward committee
• * Separate committees should be formed for lakes, fisheries, and horticulture

Objection to spelling and grammatical errors

The Joint Scrutiny Committee of the Legislative Assembly has found many spelling and grammatical errors in the Kannada version of the ‘Greater Bangalore Administration Bill-2024’.

There are differences in the translation of the bill, which was written in English, into Kannada. The errors in the clauses have been shown in the report and it has been suggested to correct them.

The names of the posts have also been entered incorrectly. There are differences in terminology, and the wrong translation should be corrected. Noting the discrepancies in several sections, the committee also suggested that each chapter be newly translated and that Kannada and English versions be prepared and provided side by side.

Despite all these instructions, the draft bill has been published in English in the report submitted by the Joint Scrutiny Committee of the Legislature.

BBMP: ‘Tunnel Road’ not raised from DPR

 Traffic not smooth, city not attractive under ‘Brand Bengaluru’

 BBMP: ‘Tunnel Road’ not raised from DPR

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The ‘underground road’ project, which was announced in the state budget even before the BBMP budget, and is an alternative way to smooth traffic, costing thousands of crores, has not yet been raised from the detailed project report (DPR).

In the first month of the Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah coming to power, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had said, ‘If smooth traffic is to be possible in the city, the only solution is a ‘underground road’, it will be ready once it is built.’ However, even after saying this, the project has not come out of the DPR even after a year and a half.

D.K., who is also the Bangalore Urban Development Minister, Shivakumar had given deadlines that tenders would be invited for the ‘tunnel road’ project from Hebbal to the Silk Board by September 2024, December 2024 and by the end of February 2025. However, BBMP’s Engineer in Chief B.S. Prahlad, who is leading the project, has not yet finalized the DPR. A firm that had prepared the DPR had also included the sheets of the Mumbai project and given it to the corporation. The engineers had also given an explanation that it was just one sheet.

‘Sugama Sanchar Bengaluru’ was given first priority in the BBMP budget under the concept of ‘Brand Bengaluru’. It was decided to allocate ₹800 crore and acquire means to make traffic smooth. The BBMP has only achieved so far by getting a feasibility report of Rs 54,000 crore for constructing 16 flyovers, including tunnels, under the ‘Bengaluru Integrated Traffic Management Project’. Although a detailed report has been given, there are allegations that BBMP engineers are wasting time and money by calling it a DPR.

Pink Room: Under the concept of ‘Attractive Bengaluru’, the BBMP budget had said that ‘pink rooms’ would be built for women at malls and bus stands, providing facilities for napkins and rest. The pink rooms have survived in the budget book, which was printed in colour.

It was said that electric lights would be installed at flyovers, underpasses and road junctions to make them attractive. LED lights were lit only at Hudson Circle during ‘Invest Karnataka’ and ‘Aero-India Air Show’. Later, they also disappeared.

Unable to identify the location for ‘Skydeck’!

The BBMP had announced in the budget that it would build a world-class 250-meter-high ‘Skydeck’ that would become an attractive destination for Bengaluru city. Although this was proposed even before the budget, engineers have not been able to identify the location for the ‘Skydeck’.

BBMP officials are saying that due to the delay in identifying the location for the construction of the second airport in Bengaluru, the locations identified in the south and north for the ‘Skydeck’ have not been finalized. Citizens keep complaining that BBMP officials, who have prepared ‘ready-made excuses’ for the delay of every project, are also responsible for the delay in the flyover works that have been going on for many years.

‘Brand Bangalore’ projects announced in the 2024-25 budget

₹880 crore – Smooth Traffic Bengaluru

₹300 crore for road white topping

₹100 crore for Rajakaluve buffer zone development

₹50 crore for road widening as per RMP

₹50 crore for road construction as per RMP

₹200 crore for tunnel road project DPR

₹30 crore for Padarayanapura road widening

₹100 crore for combined metro-road flyover route (double decker road)

₹50 crore for circular pedestrian flyover at Banashankari Circle

₹225 crore – Attractive Bengaluru

• ₹100 crore for coloured lights at important city landmarks
• ₹25 crore for beautification of junctions
• ₹50 crore for initial project cost of sky-deck construction
• ₹50 crore Funds for Kempegowda Development Authority

Not ‘Brand’, but ‘Pothole Bangalore’

‘The budget was divided in the name of Brand Bangalore. Out of the money allocated in this, ₹40 crore has been released for Detailed Project Report (DPR) and advisory reports. Apart from this, no other work has been done. Although ₹250 crore has been allocated in the grant of the District In-charge Minister, approval has been given for works worth ₹365 crore. But these works have not started yet. They have only given flowers to the ears of the people of the city in the name of ‘Brand Bangalore’. No works have been implemented. They have not even repaired the potholes on the roads, but have called ‘Brand Bangalore’ ‘Pothole Bangalore’. ₹367 crore has been spent per km to build tunnel roads in the highest altitude areas of Leh and Ladakh. But BBMP is going to spend more than ₹850 crore per km. They are now carrying out the work of the white-topping project that was approved in 2022-23,’ said former BBMP ruling party leader N.R. Ramesh.

Budget is a continuous process: Harish

‘Budget is a manual of the projects we undertake in a year. Mega projects are not completed in a single year. If the initial cost is shown in the first year, the money allocated for them is announced in the subsequent budgets. It is not possible to complete huge projects that will last for about five years this year,’ said Harish Kumar, Special commissioner, finance department of BBMP.

BBMP: ‘Brand Bangalore’ budget not launched

 A flood of projects in the 2024-25 budget; ‘New revenue’ not implemented

‘Brand Bangalore’ budget not launched

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The BBMP budget for 2024-25, which was presented to give a new look to Bengaluru under the concept of ‘Brand Bangalore’, is coming to an end, but many of the original projects have not been launched.

Projects such as 50 new Indira Canteens, ‘Arogya Sarathi’ that will go to the doorsteps of citizens in electric vehicles and give injections to improve immunity, establishment of 40 new primary health centers under the ‘Samagra Sadruth Arogya’ scheme, ‘Sharane Satyakka’ award for civic workers, Kempegowda Award scheme, construction of ‘She Toilets’ for women were announced in the budget. However, even as the budget for 2025-26 draws near, there are no signs of the projects announced in the previous year starting.

The ‘Brand Bangalore’ concept project, which was launched on the instructions of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, was started by collecting information through discussions with citizens, including educational institutions, and a report was prepared. The same was also suggested by Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar to incorporate it in the BBMP budget.

As per D.K. Shivakumar’s instructions, the BBMP budget was presented in seven sections under the title ‘Brand Bangalore’. It was intended to use the additional income from the Premium FAR and the advertisement policy for the implementation of these projects. It was also said that ₹1,580 crore would be transferred to the ‘Escrow’ account for this. However, a notification was issued on February 21, 2025 for the Premium FAR. The advertisement policy has not been implemented yet. Therefore, the projects under the ‘Brand Bangalore’ concept have fallen on deaf ears.

Municipal workers did not get ‘Sharane Satyakka’ award

Under the ‘Swachh Bengaluru’ concept, ₹100 crore has been allocated to purchase 100 acres of land each in four directions for waste processing. This is in its initial stages. Although ₹1,000 crore has been allocated for solid waste management, segregation, development of landfill sites, and operation of solid waste treatment plants, BSWML has stopped the projects at the tender stage.

Although the two-year-old plan to build 100 ‘she toilets’ for women was announced in the budget, the corporation has failed to give it a shape and implement it.

The plan to give ‘Sharane Satyakka’ award to eight people, like one municipal worker in each zone, and give ₹50,000 in cash each, Kempegowda Day celebration, and Kempegowda Award distribution have not been launched.

‘Separate Health Commissionerate’ not implemented

₹100 crore was allocated in the budget to upgrade health services under the name of ‘Healthy Bengaluru’. Plans to establish a separate Health Commissionerate for Bengaluru itself and manage all types of health services have been shelved. ‘Arogya Sarathi’, ‘Manobimba’ Samvad YouTube, ‘Sadhu Arogya’ schemes remain as budget book announcements.

It was announced that a comprehensive system would be created for civil services under the ‘Tech Bengaluru’ concept. The ‘Raste Gundi Kandhan Tantra’ app, which was launched to close road potholes, has been shut down in a few days. There is no response to the complaints filed by citizens. The ‘Service Platform’, a project to inform the stage of the process of resolving the complaints filed by citizens, has not been developed yet.

‘Indira Canteen’ not materialized: Katte Satyanarayana

‘None of the canteens, including the ‘Indira Canteen’ that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah first unveiled, are in good condition. No new menu has come. The promise of setting up 50 new Indira Canteens has been pending for two years. Under the scheme called ‘Clean Bengaluru’, the solid waste management system has deteriorated. There is one person who sweeps the garbage, one who removes it, one who collects it, one who transports it… Thus, the waste management system has deteriorated as there is a different agency for each. Although the BBMP presented the budget claiming to be the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ concept, no other work has started in the city except the old scheme of white topping,’ said former BBMP mayor Katte Satyanarayana.

₹12,371.63 crore – BBMP Budget 2024–25

Grant Allocation

Public Works; ₹7,280.93 crore

Solid Waste Management; ₹1,952.19 crore

Social Welfare; ₹829.63 crore

Public Health; ₹483.26 crore

Horticulture; ₹248.08 crore

Public Education; ₹214.82 crore

Town Planning; ₹62.30 crore

₹1,580 crore for ‘Brand Bangalore’

₹880 crore: Smooth Traffic Bangalore

₹225 crore – Attractive Bangalore

₹150 crore – Clean Bangalore

₹125 crore – Healthy Bangalore

₹100 crore – Green Bangalore

₹50 crore – Tech Bangalore

₹50 crore – Education Bangalore

Vidhan Sowdha, Vikas Sowdha, Rajabhavana’s tax not paid

 Property tax pending for more than 10 years; no action to seal: BBMP

Vidhan Sowdha, Vikas Sowdha, Rajabhavana’s tax not paid

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: More than one thousand buildings owned by the state and central government, including Raj Bhavan, Vidhan Sowdha, Vikas Sowdha, and multi-storey buildings, have not paid property tax for dozens of years.

Notices were issued to all the buildings during the One Time Relief Scheme (OTS) period. Also, BBMP officials in their respective zones had issued demand notices asking how much property tax should be paid. OTS was due by November 2024. However, none of the buildings have paid property tax so far. 

More than ₹150 crore is pending in property tax from more than one thousand government buildings in the city. However, the corporation has not come forward to seal the buildings and pay property tax. In the current financial year, more than 83 thousand private buildings have been locked and tax has been paid. Post offices were also locked when they did not pay tax.

The notice is old: ‘Notices were issued to central and state government buildings to pay property tax when OTS was in force. The officials of the concerned departments were also told that since there is no interest and penalty, many crores would be saved. However, they have not paid the tax,’ said BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath.

When asked by reporters whether government buildings will also be locked to lock private buildings that have not paid tax, Tushar Girinath replied, ‘No, how can that be done? Public buildings cannot be locked.’

Record despite not reaching the target: BBMP has collected more than 17 percent more property tax in the current financial year than the previous financial year, creating a record. However, with only a month left to reach the target for the year, ₹668 crore is still to be collected.

Yelahanka zone is at the top of the property tax collection, achieving 98 per cent. Bommanahalli zone is at the bottom, collecting 78.39 per cent. The remaining six zones have recorded collections of more than 83 per cent.

Compared to last year, Rajarajeshwari Nagar zone has collected 37.97 per cent more tax this year by the end of February. Dasarahalli zone (25.65 per cent), Yelahanka (24.50 per cent) and Western zone (23.95 per cent) are at the next position. Bommanahalli zone has seen a mere 2.12 per cent increase in collection.

Identification of tax-evading properties

Officials estimate that around seven lakh properties in eight zones of BBMP are not paying tax. Against this backdrop, 87,816 properties have been identified in the eight zones, and ₹285.12 crore in tax has been collected.

Demand notices were issued for tax of ₹398.49 crore from 15,731 properties that had been revised (as on 1st April 2024). Out of which ₹122.04 crore tax has been collected from 10,798 properties. 

The revision of property tax is ongoing and as on 1st March 2025, ₹152.26 crore tax is pending from 10,006 properties.

Property Tax Collection (as on 31st March 2025)

Zone;Target (₹ in crores);Collection (₹ in crores);Last year collection (₹ in crores) (as on 31st March 2024);

West;610.39;510.70;412.04

East;891.89;762.02;680.45

South;769.50;657.53;549.07

RR City;434.35;361.93;262.32

Bommanahalli;585.11;458.66;449.13

Dasarahalli;164.95;146.29;116.43

Mahadevpur;1,309.04;1,207.60;1033.92

Yalahanka;445.24;437.01;351.01 

₹231.42 crore tax arrears from 3,81,948 properties

Zone; property; balance

Bommanahalli;63,014;₹54.99 crore

Mahadevpur;89,509;₹49.77 crore

East;50,364;₹35.82 Crore

South;35,659;₹30.04 crore

West;40,237;₹30.04 crore

Rajarajeshwari Nagar;51,994;₹21.77 crore

Dasarahalli; 15,833; ₹13.19 crore

Rajakaluve: Approval for expenditure of ₹2 thousand crore

 ₹1,700 crore loan from World Bank; ₹300 crore expenditure from BBMP

Rajakaluve: Approval for expenditure of ₹2 thousand crore

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The state government has given administrative approval to the action plans worth ₹2 thousand crore to develop 179 km long Rajakaluves under BBMP jurisdiction. 

The state government had announced the plan to develop Rajakaluve under BBMP jurisdiction under the World Bank-assisted ‘Karnataka Water Security and Disaster Resilience Program’ in the budget for 2024-25. The decision to implement the plan was taken in the cabinet meeting held on February 20, 2025. Accordingly, the Urban Development Department approved the implementation of the action plans on March 1.

Yelahanka, Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli, R.R. The BBMP had submitted a proposal to approve the estimate and detailed project reports for the works of constructing barrier walls for 179.90 km long barrier-free royal canals in the city and Dasarahalli zones.

It had submitted a report and estimate for the repair and redesign of dilapidated stone structures of 80 km long royal canals in the selected outer zones including the eastern, western and southern zones of the inner city. The Urban Development Department has approved both these proposals.

After obtaining assistance from the World Bank, it has been suggested that the state government's share of ₹400 crore should be borne by the BBMP from its own resources. It has been said that tenders should be invited as per the KTPP Act, approval should be obtained from the competent authorities and the works should be implemented urgently.

The tender should be approved by a committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It has been suggested that any change in the approved action plan should be approved by the department minister.

It has been stipulated that the Chief Engineer of BBMP and the concerned Chief Engineers should monitor the quality of the works.

Details of Rajakaluve

• 859.90 km; Length of Rajakaluves in the city
• 75 km; Development till 2005
• 102. km; Development during 2006 to 2015
• 212 km; Development during 2016 to 2018
• 102 km; Development during 2019 to 2021
• 195 km; Construction of cistern wall in progress from 2022
• 173.90 km; Rajakaluve development pending

₹2,000 crore; Expenditure for Rajakaluve development

₹1,600 crore; Cost of 247 works in five zones of outer zone

₹400 crore; 104 works in inner zone, outer zone

How much cost in which zone?

Construction of barrier wall for Rajakaluves

Bommanahalli;₹205.25 crore

Mahadevapura;₹630.30 crore

Yelahanka;₹193.30 crore

R.R. Nagar;₹398.39 crore

Dasarahalli;₹173.61 crore

=

Redesign work of Rajakaluves 

East;₹85 crore

West;₹45 crore

South;₹65 crore

Koramangala Valley;₹20 crore

Dasarahalli;₹35 crore

Yelahanka;₹90 crore

R.R. Nagar;₹60 crore

Two link roads to Kempegowda International Airport

 BBMP working beyond its jurisdiction to connect to the airport

Two link roads to Kempegowda International Airport

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: BBMP is set to work beyond its jurisdiction to build two link roads for smooth traffic to Kempegowda International Airport.

As per the government order, BBMP is planning to build two roads in areas not under its jurisdiction. These roads are being built by the Road Infrastructure Department of Yelahanka Zone. For this, tenders have been invited to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) including the necessary funds, road expansion, land acquisition cost, building demolition, and re-tarmacking of the existing road.

It is proposed to build these two link roads apart from the alternative road currently being constructed via Bagalur to the airport. A new link road will be constructed from Bagalur main road through Country Club. Another link road will be constructed from Sadahalli Gate to the airport from near the power transmission unit near Begur. These two link roads will be connected to each other.

‘Both link roads have to be constructed almost from scratch. There are some ‘revenue layouts’ in this part. There is a few meters of road from there. It needs to be widened. A new road has to be constructed in the remaining part, and land acquisition has to be done,’ the engineers informed.

‘Land acquisition is planned under the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) scheme. It will be clear how much land will be acquired after the DPR is ready. This scheme has been started by the corporation on the orders of the government,’ he said.

Almost all of these link roads, which will be built in a length of about 13 km, need to be acquired. There is a possibility that the grant allocated by the government will be spent on land acquisition. Also, it is not yet known how those who will lose their land will agree to TDR. Two flyovers and one railway overbridge (ROB) will also have to be constructed on the two link roads. Hence, it is said that there may be a shortage of funds.

Link roads;

Satanur – Meesaganahalli to Kempegowda International Airport 

Begur to Sadahalli Gate to Kempegowda International Airport

• 13.5 km; Total length of the two link roads
• ₹100 m; Width of the link roads
• ₹240 crore; Estimated cost of the project
• ₹11.83 crore; Cost of preparation of DPR

BBMP to spend ₹3,108 per sapling

 Planting saplings as an alternative to uprooted trees for K-Ride project

BBMP to spend ₹3,108 per sapling

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

Bengaluru: The forest department has once again come forward to plant and nurture 34,000 saplings in two zones under BBMP jurisdiction at a cost of ₹3,108 per sapling.

The BBMP has been entrusted with the task of planting and nurturing saplings as an alternative to the trees that have been cleared by the Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Enterprises (K-Ride) project. The BBMP forest department, which has received the money, has started the sapling planting process.

The forest department has called for tenders to plant saplings in Mahadevapura and Bommanahalli zones and maintain them for five years. Although the sapling planting work was to be carried out in two zones, it has been divided into nine parts. A separate plan has been made to plant saplings in four parts in Mahadevapura zone and five parts in Bommanahalli zone. 

‘There is no need to spend ₹3,000 on a sapling. Any sapling, even if it grows to six feet, can be obtained for a maximum of ₹200. Spending thousands of rupees on maintenance is a waste. BBMP claims to have planted lakhs of saplings so far. But in reality, they have not maintained them. They are planning to plant saplings just to make ends meet,’ complained environmental activist Vijay.

This is not the first time: This is not the first time that the BBMP Forest Department has spent more than ₹3,000 on each sapling. In July 2024, a tender was called and work orders were issued to plant 10,900 saplings on both sides of the Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) being built on the outskirts of the city between Dabaspet and Doddabelavangala at a cost of ₹3.4 crore. Even though summer is starting this year, there is no sign of those saplings being planted, and no G-tags have been installed.

The work has been divided into 27 works to plant 1,13,500 saplings in BBMP zones and will start in 2024. ₹21.36 crore is being spent for this, with each sapling costing ₹1,881. Despite criticism from the public about this wasteful expenditure, the work has been continued by the Forest Department.

When we tried to contact Swamy, Deputy Conservator of Forests, for a comment on the wasteful expenditure on saplings, he did not pick up the call.

• The third project is costing more than ₹3,000 per sapling
• Forest Department not yielding to opposition from environmental activists
• G-Tag information on saplings not available to the public

₹10.59 crore; Cost of saplings to be planted in Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli zones

34,100; Number of saplings to be planted in two zones

₹4.87 crore; Cost of saplings to be planted in Mahadevapura zone

15,700; Saplings to be planted in Mahadevapura zone

₹5.71 crore; Saplings to be planted in Bommanahalli zone

18,400; Saplings to be planted in Bommanahalli zone

DPR for Twin Tube East-West Tunnel Road

DPR for Twin Tube East-West Tunnel Road

Bengaluru: BBMP has started preparations for the construction of the Twin Tube East-West Tunnel Road in the city and has invited tenders for the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

To ease traffic in the city, tenders will be invited in February for the construction of the 18-km long ‘North-South Corridor’ tunnel road from Hebbal to Silk Board. The cost of this will be ₹17,780 crore, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had recently said.

The tunnel road will be constructed in two phases, and the project will be funded by the BBMP and the government. Power Finance Corporation and HUDCO have come forward to provide loans. He also said that those who pay money at low interest rates will be given opportunities through auction.

Also read… Tunnel Fee 18 per KM

The second phase of the East-West Corridor Tunnel planned under the BBMP is to be constructed as a twin tube tunnel (double deck) with six lanes and a length of 28 km. It is estimated that the cost of this will be around ₹25,000 crore.

The BBMP has a feasibility report with maps for constructing the East-West Corridor Tunnel from K.R. Pura via Jawaharlal Nehru Park, C.V. Raman Hospital, Indiranagar, Domlur, Lalbagh, National College, Chamarajpet, Karyasiddhi Anjaneya Temple to Nice Road Junction near Nayandahalli. The DPR has now been prepared accordingly and the DPR will be ready within eight weeks of the finalization of the tender.

Six Satellite Towns around the capital

Objective to reduce congestion in Bengaluru: Cabinet Decision

Six Satellite Towns around the capital

• 8,943 acres 35 guntes; Total area of ​​Bidadi integrated Satellite Town
• 6,023 acres 24 guntes; Cultivated area of ​​villages
• 101 acres 12 guntes; Area of ​​A Kharabu
• 2,818 acres 35 guntes; Area of ​​B Kharabu

Extent of Bidadi Satellite Town

Bidadi Hobli: Bairamangala, Bannigare, Hosur, K.G. Gollarapalya, Kanchugaranahalli, Aralalusandra, Kempayyanapalya, Kanchugaranahalli Kavalu, Mandalahalli.

Harohalli Hobli: Vaderahalli.

Where is the suburb?

Devanahalli, Nelamangala, Hoskote, Doddaballapura, Magadi, Bidadi

Objective: To develop attractive cities with sustainable infrastructure and create employment opportunities.

‘Work-Live-Play’ concept as per international standards

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The Cabinet has approved the development of six Satellite Towns around the city to reduce congestion in the capital Bengaluru.

Approval has been given under Section 15(1)(b) of the Karnataka Urban Development Authority Act 197 to implement the ‘Greater Bangalore Integrated Suburban Development Project’ under the ‘Greater Bangalore Development Authority’.

The government has given in-principle approval to start the preliminary processes for the implementation of the ‘Bidadi Integrated Satellite Town Development Project’ in Ramanagara district in the first phase of the ‘Greater Bangalore Integrated Suburban Development Project’.

It has been agreed to start the land acquisition process for the ‘Bidadi Integrated Satellite Town Development Project’ in 9 villages of Bidadi Hobli and one village of Harohalli Hobli. It has also been agreed to provide 35% to 50% developed land as compensation in lieu of the acquired land as per the Urban Development Authority and Karnataka Urban Development Authority Rules-2009.

Out of the 8,943 acres, 910 acres have been acquired by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB). The land acquisition process should be started for the Bidadi Integrated Satellite Town in the remaining 8,032 acres. It has been suggested that the settlement, school-college, lake, cemetery and public purpose areas should be maintained as they are. 

A committee comprising competent authorities, departments and institutions should be constituted under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary for the implementation of the Integrated Satellite Towns Plan. The suburbs should be designed in accordance with international standards, in the Work-Live-Play concept, with road and rail connectivity. The Cabinet has approved that eligible institutions may be appointed for planning this.

Flyover work has increased the problems of the people

 Increase in traffic on Mysore Road, daily hardship for citizens, engineers who do not solve the problem

Flyover work has increased the problems of the people

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The flyover work that has been started to reduce traffic congestion and facilitate traffic on Mysore Road has not been completed even after years, and has only increased traffic congestion.

It has been four and a half years since the grade separator work began on the Outer Ring Road near the Mysore Road-Nice Junction. The grade separator work, which will allow signal-free traffic on the Outer Ring Road and free traffic towards Hosakerehalli Kodi Road and Girinagar, began in August 2020 and was supposed to be completed in 15 months. The work is still a year away.

The ‘Hosakerehalli Kerekodi Road Junction Grade Separator’ work, which has been started under the Chief Minister’s New Urban Development Grant, is being carried out by PJP Engineers. The grade separator work at the Hosakerehalli Kerekodi Road Junction, which is adjacent to the Nice Link Road, has resulted in no road connectivity to the surrounding areas. Residents of Hosakerehalli, Bangarappanagar, Mookambikenagar, Pramod Layout, Girinagar, Ganapathinagar, and Avalahalli areas have to travel half a kilometer on a one-way road around the barrier built around the grade separator work area, take a U-turn, and then travel another half kilometer.

‘The width of the remaining road has reduced due to the grade separator work, resulting in a situation where people have to wait for more than half an hour in the morning and evening. School vehicles, parents dropping their children to school, and office goers have to wait here due to the chaos, and there is a delay in reaching the specified destination,” complained locals Gopalrao, Jagadish, and Manjula.

Rusty Pillar: The ‘Signal Free Rotary’ work for signal-free traffic on Mysore Road and Rajarajeshwari Nagar began in July 2022. However, the work was stopped after the construction of four or five pillars. The work has not continued after the assembly elections. 

The pillars built years ago have rusted due to the stoppage of the ‘Signal Free Rotary’ work. The barrier wall has been removed indiscriminately, leaving the remaining road in a pothole and dusty. Since the green signal is given to vehicles plying on Mysore Road for a long time, those coming from Rajarajeshwari Nagar and those going towards Rajarajeshwari Nagar from Gnanabharathi have to stand in the air pollution and dust for a long time.

‘The ‘Signal Free Rotary’ work was supposed to be done for the convenience of the citizens. However, the work has been stalled for two years, which has only increased the inconvenience to the people. If you ask the engineers about this, they point their fingers at the people’s representatives. They do not have the patience to listen to the problems of the common people,’ complained Ramachandra of Halagevaderahalli.

‘Hosakerehalli Kerekodi Road Junction Grade Separator’

• ₹30 crore; Grade Separator Cost
• August 7, 2020; Work Order to Contractor
• 15 months; Deadline given for completion of work

Rajarajeshwari Nagar ‘Signal Free Rotary’

• ₹80 crore; Total cost of the project
• 1 July 2022; Date of issue of work order
• 24 months; Deadline given for completion of work
• Contractors; KBR Infratech, Sahakarinagar

DCM lashes out at Prahlad!

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed his displeasure at a meeting of officials held on Tuesday over the delay in many works including the flyover in the BBMP area. Taking a dig at Principal Engineer B.S. Prahlad, who is responsible for the management of major works including the flyover, grade separator, white topping works, the DCM said, ‘Prahlad has increased work pressure. He also has many projects. Sources said that Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath was instructed to hand over the projects to someone else.

B.S. Prahlad did not respond when contacted for comment on the delay in the Hosakerehalli and Rajarajeshwari Nagar flyover works. Prahlad, who also holds the post of Chief Engineer of the Infrastructure Department, is responsible for seven flyover works that have been going on in the city for the past four to five years.

₹13 thousand crore for 16 Flyovers

 Proposal for construction of 16 elevated corridors; DPR of 10 works ready

  ₹13 thousand crore for 16 Flyovers

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: BBMP is ready to implement ₹16 elevated corridors (flyovers) at a cost of about ₹13 thousand crore proposed under the ‘Bengaluru Integrated Traffic Management Plan’.

On the instructions of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, the ‘Bengaluru Integrated Traffic Management Plan’ was formulated to control and smoothen traffic congestion in the city. Under it, the BBMP had prepared a feasibility report for the construction of 16 flyovers/underpasses, including tunnel roads and double-decker corridors. These projects will be announced in the next budget of the BBMP, for which all preparations have been made.

Delhi-based Altinoc had submitted the feasibility report to the BBMP in December. BBMP has invited tenders for preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) for 10 of the 16 elevated corridors. Bids can be submitted till February 6. In the remaining six overbridges, DPRs of some projects have been prepared earlier. Some changes will be made in them. Tenders will be invited soon for the preparation of DPRs for the remaining projects, said engineers from the BBMP infrastructure department.

Loan for tunnel road: The North-South and East-West tunnel road corridors require ₹40,000 crore, which is intended to be implemented under public-private partnership (PPP). The BBMP will get the required funds in the form of loans. Three institutions have come forward to provide a loan of ₹8,000 crore on the assets of the corporation. The engineers informed that tenders will be invited for the tunnel road after the government's approval.

16; Number of proposed elevated corridors/ flyovers

₹13,140 crore; Total construction cost of corridors

109.5 km; Total length of 16 elevated corridors

Wasteful!

‘Among the proposed elevated corridor projects, there is also the ‘Integrated Elevation’ project from Hudson Circle to Minerva Circle, which has been stalled for decades. However, white-topping work has also started on the same route. If a flyover is to be built, white-topping can be done after it is completed. If it is done now, it will be demolished and a flyover will be built, which will be a waste of money,’ complained Basavanagudi’s Satyanarayana.

Overbridges for which tenders have been invited for preparation of DPR

Project;Length (km);Cost (₹ in crores)

Split overbridge at MEI Junction;0.5;60

Overbridge: Yeshwanthpur – Mattikere Cross to IISC – Mekhri Circle – Jayamahal – St. John Church Road, Halsur Lake – Old Madras Road – KR. Pura;27;3,240

Flyover/Underpass: Kanakapura Road via Konanakunte Cross to Banashankari;0.9;108

Flyover: Adyar Ananda Bhavan, Raghuvanahalli, Kanakapura Road;0.8;96

Elevated Corridor: Marenahalli Main Road (Ragigudda to 7th Main Road Junction) to Kanakapura Main Road (Talaghatpur Nice Road via Pipeline Road); 10.5; 1,260

Elevated Corridor: Old Madras Road to Swami Vivekananda Metro Station on Hosur Road via Indiranagar, Dommalur – Silkboard Junction;10;1,200

Elevated Corridor: Nagawara Junction to Ramakrishna Hegde Nagar, Sampigehalli, Thirumenahalli, Bellahalli, Bagalur Main Road;15;1,800

Additional Link Road to Airport: Elevated Corridor from Outer Ring Road to Hennur Main Road Junction to Balaguru Junction;15,1,800

Elevated Corridor: Tannery Road to Madhava Mudaliar Road to Nagawara Junction;3.5;660

Elevated Corridor: Outer Ring Road from West of Cord Road to Pipeline Road (Nandini Layout);4.5;540

Proposed Flyovers

Integrated Elevation: Hudson Circle to Minerva Circle (Minerva Circle, Bharat Talkies, Shivaji Talkies, Town Hall, LIC, Halsur Police Station, Hudson Circle, Cubbon Park);2.7;324

Flyover Extension: Anand Rao Circle to K.R. Nrupatunga Road via Circle;1.7;204

Underpass Extension: From Madiwala Underpass to Traffic Police Station Junction;0.5;60

Elevated Corridor: Hosur Road to Shule Circle (Vellara Junction – Anepalya, Forum, St. John Church, Madiwala, Silk Board Junction);7.4;888

Elevated Corridor: From Sirsi Circle to Nayandahalli via Mysore Road;3.5;420

Elevated Corridor: Yelahanka Newtown to Kempegowda International Airport;4;480

CM order ignored: 60 retired engineers appointed to KPTCL

 Chief Minister, Chief Secretary orders overruled; posting to sanctioned posts

CM order ignored: 60 retired engineers appointed to KPTCL

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) has appointed 60 retired engineers, violating the orders of the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary.

CVL engineers who have retired from government service have been appointed as ‘Engineers on Duty (EOD)’ on ‘temporary basis’ in KPTCL corporate office and transmission sectors. The Director of Administration and Human Resources, KPTCL, issued an order in this regard on January 9.

The ‘EOD’ post has been created in three categories, and those born between 1957 and 1964 have been appointed, and they have been given the duties of Junior Engineer or Assistant Engineer. In addition, the responsibility of supervising and inspecting the civil engineering works of sub-stations has been entrusted.

‘The recruitment of retired employees is putting an additional burden on the exchequer. Also, the lack of quality of performance and accountability among retirees is also evident. Hence, retirees should be released from service in the departments,’ Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had instructed the Chief Secretary on January 9, 2024. Accordingly, the Chief Secretary had issued instructions to the Chief, Principal, and Secretaries of all departments on January 23, 2024, ordering, ‘Retirees should be released from service. They should be assigned to vacant posts.’

Even after these orders, KPTCL has not given importance to the recruitment process for vacant posts and has given the work of sanctioned posts to retired engineers.

‘As per the KPTCL recruitment rules, retirees cannot be recruited in any way. Also, they cannot be appointed to sanctioned posts on a contract/temporary basis. 60 retired engineers have been given the tasks of engineers in sanctioned posts, claiming them as ‘temporary basis’ in name only. Even though the retirees are already getting pensions of lakhs of rupees, they have been put on the spot. Even though the youth have applied and are waiting for appointment, the authorities are not paying attention. Also, their efficiency will not increase after retirement,’ complained Manmohan, a retired officer of KPTCL.

When tried to contact KPTCL Managing Director Pankaj Kumar Pandey for a comment, he did not respond. KPTCL’s Director of Administration and Human Resources, B.P. Vijay, who approved the appointment of the retired engineer and also pays the salary, simply replied, ‘Ask the Technical Director’.

• 60; Total selection of retired civil engineers
• 48; EOD-1 grade – salary of ₹1 lakh per month
• 11; EOD-2 Grade – Salary ₹90 thousand per month
• 1; EOD-3 Grade – Salary ₹80 thousand per month

Where were retired engineers appointed?

• 2; SE (Civil), KPTCL Corporate Office
• 2; DGM (Civil), KPTCL Corporate Office
• 9; Transmission Zone, Bengaluru
• 10; Transmission Zone, Tumkur
• 8; Transmission Zone, Mysore
• 12; Transmission Zone, Hassan
• 9; Transmission Zone, Bagalkot
• 8; Transmission Zone, Kalaburagi

Property tax arrears: immovable property auction begins

 Property tax arrears: immovable property auction begins

Bengaluru: BBMP has started the process of urgent auction of properties that have been in arrears of property tax for a long time.

The defaulters did not pay the tax despite notices asking for reasons for delay in payment of property tax arrears, demand notices, property seizure, and sealing of non-residential properties. Therefore, the auction process has been started under Section 156 Sub-section 5 of the BBMP Act 2020, said BBMP Revenue Department Special Commissioner Munish Moudgil.

The property tax arrears due to the corporation will be fully recovered from the money received in the auction. The excess money will be deposited in the bank account of the property owners. One to two auctioneers have been identified from each zone of the corporation. He informed that a date has been fixed for the auction process of eight to ten properties and notices have been issued to the owners.

‘This is a start, this process is carried out every week. The arrears of commercial/industrial and residential properties with high property tax arrears will be recovered through the auction process. Two lakh properties in the BBMP area have not paid tax. The defaulters should not be allowed to take coercive action like auction, Munish has appealed.

Also read… property-vehicle-to-be-auctioned

Auction Notice

M. Rangappa, who owns a 44,933 sq ft building in 9090 sq ft in Chokkasandra, has arrears of property tax of ₹1.85 crore. M. Kumar, who owns a 12,080 sq ft building in 399 sq ft in HSR Layout, has to pay ₹31.94 lakh property tax. Shankare Gowda, who owns a 29,100 sq ft building in 6785 sq ft in Bagalgunte, has arrears of ₹30.99 lakh tax. Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Ayub, and Mohammad Shoaib, who own a 6,400 sq ft building on a 2,008 sq ft plot in Shantala Nagar, have a property tax of ₹11.22 lakh. The BBMP has issued notices to auction all four properties.

Encroachment not identified in 77 lakes

 District administration neglects survey, boundary marking work; High Court order ignored

Encroachment not identified in 77 lakes

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

Bengaluru: Although the High Court issued three orders in 2023 to identify and clear encroachment of lakes under BBMP jurisdiction, the district administration has not completed the survey work. Although encroachment has been identified in some lakes, no ‘marking’ has been done at the site.

The Revenue Department should identify the encroachment of lakes and provide the BBMP with documents and recommendations that it can be cleared. The Executive Engineer of the Lakes Division of BBMP, approved by the government, should issue an encroachment clearance order and also carry out the clearance operation. But this work has not been expedited.

The High Court has directed the clearance of encroachment of lakes on July 21, August 1, and September 4, 2023. BBMP had also submitted an action plan for the clearance operation. If it had been implemented accordingly, it would have taken a year for all the encroachments on the lakes to be cleared. However, so far only 28 lakes have been cleared of encroachments. Since 29 lakes are encroached by government departments, BBMP officials have considered them to be ‘encroachment-free’.

Since 2023, the BBMP Chief Commissioner has been holding meetings and instructing the District Collector, Tahsildar, Land Survey, Revenue System and Land Records Department Commissioners to conduct a survey of the area of ​​the lakes and identify the encroachments and boundaries. However, the survey work is not being done.

BBMP Special Commissioner for Forest, Environment and Climate Change Management Preeti Gehlot, who has written a letter (VA/APAHAY/PR/2825) to the City District Collector on December 23, 2024, requesting the ‘encroachment survey work and demarcation of boundaries of lakes under BBMP jurisdiction’, has violated the previous meeting and the High Court instructions. She has also written a letter (VA/APAHAY/PR/2552) to the Commissioner of Land Survey Department, requesting to conduct a survey of the lakes.

A large number of lakes are encroached in Dakshina taluk, and to conduct their survey, she has written a separate letter (VA/APAHAY/PR/2826) to the Assistant Director of Land Records (Dakshina) of the City District, asking him to expedite the slow survey work. A report has to be submitted to the court, and in three letters, she has requested to complete the survey work and demarcation of encroachments as soon as possible. However, the survey work has not picked up speed.

‘Clearance is not possible without marking’

‘Even if the lakes are surveyed and the encroachment is identified on the map, it is not possible to clear them. Clearance operations can only be carried out after marking the place. Despite several requests for marking, no action has been taken,’ said BBMP engineers.

‘The survey work of almost all the lakes has been completed. BBMP should take all necessary steps,’ said Manjunath, Commissioner of the Department of Land Survey, Revenue System and Land Records. City Deputy Commissioner Jagadish did not respond to a call to comment on this.

202 Lakes under BBMP jurisdiction

19 Lakes that have been destroyed

183 Living lakes

105 Lakes surveyed with additional identification

62 Lakes pending encroachment identification

16 Lakes pending survey

29; Encroachment by government departments in lakes

92; Government and private encroachment in lakes

17; Private encroachment in lakes

28; Lakes free from encroachment

Lakes to be surveyed and identified as encroached

37; South Taluk

27; East Taluk

7; North Taluk

4; Yelahanka Taluk

1; Anekal Taluk

1; CTS Survey Department (Sanki Lake)

Lakes Survey done with Marking

South Taluk: Chowdeshwari Lake, Subedaranakere,Basapura Lake-2,Konappana Agrahara lake, Gubbalalu Lake, Kembathahalli lake, Yelenahalli Lake, Kammanahalli Lake (Meenakshi Lake), Gottigere, Basavanapura Lake, Subbarayana lake, Konankunte Lake, Arekere lake, Singasandra lake, Kodige Singasandra Lake,

Sarakki Lake, Haralukunte (somasundarapalaya lake) Busegowdana lake, Hosakerehalli lake, Jogi kere, Sompura Lake, Bheemana Katte,

Dubasipalya lake (Valagerahalli), Chikkabasthi lake, Lingadeeranahalli (handrahalli) Lake, Thalaghattapura Lake, Konasandra Lake,

Mylasandra (Sunnakallu palya) lake, Bayyapanapalya Kunte, Kenchanapura, Byrasandra lake / Chikkapete lake, Deepanjali lake,Gowdana Palya Lake, Mesthripalya lake & Nayandahalli lake.

Exemption from setback for residential buildings

Rules relaxing for two-storey houses: BBMP proposes to government

Exemption from setback for residential buildings

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has considered exempting residential buildings built on small plots within the city limits from the setback rules.

In plots measuring 20 feet x 30 feet to 30 feet x 40 feet, the area of ​​space to be left (setback) around the house will be reduced if a ground and two-storey residential building is built. 

When constructing a residential building on a plot with a width of 20 feet from the road side, a space of three feet (setback) should be left only in the front. In plots up to 30 feet, there is no need to leave space at the back of the building. When constructing a building on a plot of 30 feet to 40 feet, space will have to be left around it according to its size. The BBMP has submitted a proposal to the government to amend the zoning rules in this regard.

According to the current setback rules, a space of one meter (3.28 feet) should be left around the building in 20 feet x 30 feet plots. There should be a setback of 1.50 meters (5 feet) around in 30 feet x 40 feet plots. 

‘No matter how much we try, setback violations continue to occur in small plots. Most of the houses are built on such plots by poor people. When notices are issued to take action for the violation, they make various requests and there is pressure. There is no setback around thousands of houses already built in the city. Therefore, a proposal has been submitted to exempt residential buildings on small plots. Officials have been given the responsibility to ensure that no building is built in the city without a map and setback,’ said BBMP city planning department officials.

How much setback is proposed for which plot?

Width of plots;Setback

;Right;Left;Front;Back

Up to 7 meters;0 m;0 m;0.9 m;0 m

7 meters to 10 meters;0.9 m;0.9 m;0 m

More than 10 meters; 8%;8%;12%;8%

30 square meter plots are not allowed!

In the proposal submitted to the government, the BBMP has requested that permission be given to construct buildings on plots less than 30 square meters (323 square feet) in the city and that provision be made in the building bye-laws. It has also been requested to allow the concerned officials of the corporation to take action to prevent the construction of any kind of building on such plots.