The Karnataka budget for fiscal 2011-12 ,earmarked Rs.4,470 crore for various infrastructure projects in this tech hub to mitigate hardships faced by its nearly eight million denizens due to crumbling civic amenities, choked drains and grid locks.

'With a population of nearly eight million, Bangalore is one of the fastest growing cities in Asia. Rapid urbanisation has brought with it problems of traffic and congestion. To provide adequate infrastructure for the city's growth and development Rs.4, 770 crore will be spent in coming fiscal through various sources,' state Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said presenting the budget.

The budget proposes to spend Rs.750 crore on development works, including three residential layouts in the suburbs through the state-run Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to form sites and build houses.

'About 30,000 houses will be built and distributed to economically weaker sections, 29 lakes will be rejuvenated and 12 parks and entertainment centres will be developed. An eight-acre sculpture park, which will be the first of its kind in the country, will also be built,' Yeddyurappa told lawmakers in the state legislative assembly at Vidhana Soudha.

For the ongoing Bangalore metro rail project, the budget proposes to spend Rs.683 crore in the next fiscal for completion of the 42km phase 1 by 2013. This will be in addition to the Rs.2,600 crore the state has spent on the first phase of the project, which is scheduled to open for traffic in April.

The government has also approved phase two of the metro covering 71 km across the city.

To encourage increasing use of public transport by commuters, the government has decided to introduce the bus rapid transit system (BRTS) at a cost of Rs.550 crore on the north-south corridor, with a budgetary support of Rs.25 crore in the next fiscal.

'To extend Cauvery drinking water supply across the city, Rs.1,150 crore will be spent through the Bangalore Water Supply and Sanitary Board (BWSSB) in the coming year. On completion of the Rs.3,384-crore fourth phase of the Cauvery water supply scheme, about 500 million liters per day will be made available to 1.2 million people by March 2012,' Yeddyurappa asserted.

As part of the comprehensive traffic and transportation plan for the city, the government has sought the railway ministry's permission to provide commuter rail service from Bangalore to Devanahalli, Anekal, Malur, Ramanagara and Nelamangala, which are in the 50ks radius from the city centre.

'We will provide Rs.350 crore to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to build elevated roads, flyovers, underpasses, parking lots and infrastructure for solid waste disposal,' Yeddyurappa added.

Source: (IANS)