DKS announces plan to open new town planning college

“Bengaluru has not grown in a systematic way after Kempegowda,” Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Monday, stressing the need for professional town planners to guide the city’s growth.

During the 58th Engineers’ Day and the 165th birth anniversary of M. Visvesvaraya, he announced that the government is considering setting up a new town planning college in Bengaluru to address the shortage of specialists.

Speaking at the event organised by The Institution of Engineers (India), Mr. Shivakumar said engineers are central to the city’s development. “Today, officials from other engineering branches are being deputed to the Town Planning Department. We need experts to give the city a systematic form,” he said. 

The Deputy Chief Minister highlighted Bengaluru’s massive urban pressure, noting that 1.4 crore people live in the city, while 70 lakh commutes in and out daily. “Bengaluru has to withstand this. As a solution, I have initiated tunnel road projects. These are being criticised as money-making exercises, but I have continued my work,” Mr. Shivakumar said. He also mentioned that there had been pressure to denotify the Bengaluru Business Corridor, but he resisted. “We are now building a 100-km-long road under this project,” he said.

Calling engineers the builders of the nation, Mr. Shivakumar pointed out that Karnataka has around 300 engineering colleges producing nearly one lakh engineers every year, many of whom serve abroad.

During the event, he also recalled an interaction during the Polish Prime Minister’s visit to Bengaluru. “Later, I sent a team to Silicon Valley. Out of five people they met there, three were Indians and two were from Bengaluru. That pride brought business directly here. Even Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said that India will be seen through Bengaluru,” he said.

GBA recognise contributions of 13 engineers

Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao felicitated outstanding engineers with the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Award in recognition of their contributions to urban development on Visvesvaraya Jayanti on Monday. A total of 13 engineers received the award.

GBA Commissioner said that if engineers work diligently and sincerely, public recognition will follow automatically. “Engineers must remain focused and not be distracted by criticism. Even under pressure, engineers perform commendably,” Mr. Rao, who inaugurated the Engineer’s Day celebrations organised by the GBA Officers’ and Employees’ Welfare Association, said.

During the event, Retired Additional Chief Secretary to the government, N. Manjunath Prasad, shared his experience, recalling a major flooding incident in Bommanahalli in 2016 when sewage water inundated the area. “Engineers worked tirelessly through the night and resolved the issue by morning,” he said. Mr. Prasad also highlighted the life and legacy of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, noting his role in education despite losing his father at the age of 13 and his emphasis on collective discussion and consultation before implementing policies. Mr. Prasad further noted that while the city municipal council has been merged, the increase in revenue has not kept pace.