41st anniversary of The Times of India, Bengaluru: Rebooting tech city, again

By: DK ShivakumarThe city that has launched a million dreams in the past 25 years now needs infrastructure refresh. with many projects in the pipeline, the tech city will add more to its mojo and become future-proof

Bengaluru is now at the intersection of dizzying glory and growing pains. The city’s meteoric rise — from leafy Cantonment town to a global tech empire — has been dazzling, but it’s saddled with attendant baggage of pangs not unknown to any booming metropolis.From the gentle buzz of commerce in old Pete areas to the bustling British cantonments and from a slow-burn pensioners’ paradise to buzzing technology hubs, Bengaluru has journeyed through centuries with a rare poise and a resolve to keep its soul intact. At a deeply personal level, Bengaluru is a living canvas of my life in all its pitstops. I’ve felt every shift in its heartbeat and every triumph it has claimed.From the PSU wave in the 1950s to the industrialisation wave of 1970s and early IT wave of 1990s to the startup tides of 2010s, Bengaluru has attracted more talent, more businesses and more commerce.Such growths do exact a price. Bengaluru’s population, which was around 55 lakh in the year 2000, has skyrocketed to 1.4 crore today. The city now hosts 1.2 crore registered vehicles. Roads are clearly unable to handle the load resulting in traffic congestion. Great challenges need great responses and here’s a broad-brush portrait of how our govt is giving Bengaluru an infrastructure leg-up.PATH TO BETTER ROADSWith the cost of land along arterial roads hitting the roof, widening of roads is ruled out.

Only viable solution is to go underground. Two tunnel corridors -- North-South and East-West -have been planned to ease traffic. The Rs 42,000-crore 16.7km tunnel road passes through most congested areas of the core city and will save about 45 minutes of commute time. This subterranean tunnel to be built 120 feet below the ground will be spearheaded by Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd and will be completed in three years.Double-decker flyovers along Metro lines are a home-grown innovation. The 44.3km network of flyovers integrated with Metro lines is being developed jointly by BBMP and BMRCL sharing the Rs 9,000 crore cost. This approach would be followed for all new Metro lines.If there’s one project that could have significantly eased Bengaluru’s traffic, it was Peripheral Ring Road on the northern part connecting Tumakuru Road and Hosur Road.

This project was gathering dust for over a decade and a half. Our govt revived the project and named it Bengaluru Business Corridor. This access-controlled urban highway will complete the urban highway loop along existing NICE road. The govt has secured a funding of Rs 27,000 crore for the project from Hudco and others.Another notable project is 110-km elevated road network to ease surfacelevel congestion. At least 300km roads are being built along buffer zones of stormwater drains to create alternative routes.

This will create new roads and avoid flooding along storm water drains. An allocation of Rs 3,000 crore has been made for this project.Some 1,682km roads are being upgraded with concrete surfacing to improve durability and reduce maintenance. This would eliminate the perennial problem of potholes on arterial roads.The 18.8 km elevated Metro line between RV Road and Bommasandra is likely to open soon. The 21.2km line between Nagawara and Gottigere is nearing completion and should be thrown open to the public by next year. The 32.1km orange line between Hebbal and JP Nagar is approved and construction will start soon. The 12.5km silver line between Kadabagere and Hosahalli has also been approved and construction will start soon.Bengaluru would have more than 200km once Metro phase 2 and 3 are completed. The objective is to add 1-2 hours of quality time to the lives of people by reducing commute time.TREATING TRASHSolid waste generation in Bengaluru has gone up several folds in the past decade.

Its management needs an integrated approach. But the wellentrenched garbage contractors are trying to prevent transformation in this space. We are studying waste disposal technology in other states and we will soon come out with a policy for waste disposal.We have introduced a helpline -1533/9448197197 -- so that citizens can send photos of garbage pileups in their area to BBMP for clearing. The government regularised services of 12,692 pourakarmikas recently.THE ELIXIR OF LIFEThe Cauvery 5th stage project is completed and it would supply water to 110 peripheral villages in Greater Bengaluru. The planning for Cauvery 6th stage is underway for the city’s future needs. Alongside, our govt has introduced Sarala Cauvery scheme wherein owners of homes and flats can pay 20% down payment and secure water connection. The rest can be paid in instalments.The 2024 summer was a serious warning for Bengaluru city as nearly 7,000 borewells dried up due to lack of rains and the private water tanker mafia fleeced citizens.

The government took over many private water t the well e conto ao end pileBBMP for tankers to bring the prices under control. As a permanent solution, our government has introduced the Sanchari Cauvery scheme.RESTORING LAKESBengaluru founder Kempegowda built 1,000 lakes in and around Bengaluru. Unfortunately, the lakes are becoming cesspools due to lack of separation of sewage from storm waters. Our govt decision to fill all tanks with treated water would ensure a clean and safe public space for the people.NO-CLUTTER LAYOUTSOne key reason for Bengaluru’s systematic growth in the past was organised layouts till 2005. When I was the urban development minister in the SM Krishna government, several organised BDA layouts were formed. Unfortunately, this exercise has hit a roadblock in the past two decades. We are trying to revive the BDA layouts.ADMN REBOOTBengaluru has grown big to be managed only by BBMP. We have passed Greater Bengaluru Authority Bill which allows us multiple corporations under one umbrella body.

This radical re-organisation will enable us to manage the growing city’s needs far more effectively.WHAT’S COMINGBengaluru’s best days are not behind us, they are ahead. Together, let’s build a city that future generations will inhabit and also cherish. Our vision is clear: A Bengaluru that is smart, green, inclusive, and globally competitive. A city where a tech entrepreneur in Whitefield, a street vendor in Chickpet, a student in Jayanagar and a daily wage labourer in Kengeri and all others in between feel equally empowered and comfortable.Mahatma Gandhi said, “The future depends on what you do today.” It’s time we acted with urgency, empathy, and unity to reclaim Namma Bengaluru.