Bengaluru city MLAs seek more funds for infrastructure development

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Congress MLAs of Bengaluru City are said to have told Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K.Shivakumar to fully focus on the improvement of infrastructure in all 28 Assembly constituencies ahead of the Lok Sabha to retain the confidence of Bengalureans.

The CM had convened a meeting of Bengaluru Urban legislators to have a free-wheeling discussion with them about what needs to be done to win two of the seats that have been held by the BJP for a long time.

The MLAs wanted the state government to release more funds for the development of Bengaluru City as they had voted for the Congress Partyhoping they would do something to improve the city.

The incumbent government must work to meet the expectations of Bengalureans as their support ias vital in the coming Lok Sabha and BBMP polls, the legislators said.

They wanted projecty to help people spend less time on roads traveling by improving Namma Metro connectivity, implementing signal-free corridors, flyovers and the ring road wherever possible.

Replying, the CM expressed his inability to provide additional funds for each constituency in Bengaluru City because of other commitments such as the implementation of five guarantee schemes.

In the current year, the government required around 35,000 crore for the implementation of the guarantee schemes, and it would increase to around Rs 60,000 crore from the next financial year.. However, efforts would be made from next year to keep aside more funds exclusively for the development of infrastructure in the State capital, he assured.

The legislators wanted the CM to resume the ‘city rounds’ which would help to monitor ongoing projects as well as send a strong message to bureaucrats.

Since the BBMP polls are fast approaching, the government must pull up its socks to respond to the growing needs of the residents, they said.

The CM promised to convene another round of meetings in the coming months to have a detailed discussion on infrastructure development in Bengaluru City.