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