What does 2013 have in store for Bangaloreans? Will the City see less of crime, traffic jams, construction work, clogged drains, power cuts and garbage dumps? Those at the helm of the police (law and order and traffic wing), BBMP, BDA, BESCOM, BMTC and BMRCLsay that they have chalked out a host of plans to make the City a better place to live in. The plans look grand on paper, but will they be implemented in all earnestness?
Metrolife interacted with the authorities from various departments to get an insight into the plans and also spoke to some ordinary people to know what they feel about these plans.
Frequency of buses to increase
Official speaks: Anjum Parwez, managing director (BMTC), says they are planning to scrap 755 old buses and replace them with BS-IV norm buses.
"We will also add 500 new BS-IV buses for augmentation of new routes and schedule. This will provide relief to passengers during the peak hours and the new buses are more commuter-friendly," says Anjum and adds, "we also plan to install two cameras each in 1,000 buses and gradually increase it to more buses."
People's reaction: Vinod Mathad, student: "The City badly needs a fleet of new buses to replace the existing old, worn out ones. The connectivity is good but new buses would be a big relief to a regular BMTC traveller like me."
Ensuring safety of women
Official speaks: Additional commissioner of police (law and order) T Suneel Kumar hopes to work towards the prevention of crimes such as robbery, rowdyism and the culture of gangsters that are prominent in all the police station limits.
"We want to educate and sensitise the existing police force on women-related issues and ensure that the women in the City feel safe. We also want to clamp down on rowdyism with an iron hand. Increasing patrolling in the City also tops the list of priorities," informs Suneel Kumar.
People's reaction: Jiji A J, professional: "As a woman, safety is a pressing concern. Increasing incidents of rowdyism and the cases of murder we read about almost everyday make me feel unsafe. The police has to do a lot to instill confidence in people, especially women."
Clearing the mess
Official speaks: A senior official with the BBMP says, "The primary challenge before us is to resolve the impending garbage issue. We will do everything we can to resolve the crisis. Identify places where garbage can be dumped without resistance from
people living around tops the list."
People's reaction: Rafi Ali Khan, IT professional: "There's a lot of corruption in the BBMP and unless they really take up the garbage issue on a priority basis, nothing will change."
Decongesting the roads
Official speaks: T Sham Bhatt, commissioner, BDA says the proposed Kempe Gowda Layout near Magadi Road will be completed. "We hope to resolve the Arkavathy problem and work on Phase 1 of the Peripheral Outer Ring Road will be completed," says Sham. A chief engineer with BDA informs, "The new year will see the completion of the flyover at Belandur, the underpass at Kuvempu Nagar and flyover at Bhadhra Layout on the Outer Ring Road."
People's reaction: Teena V, professional: "I hope the proposed projects will be completed within the deadline. Flyovers and underpasses will definitely decongest roads and reduce the travel time."
Realisation of dream project
Official speaks: U A Vasanth Rao,GM (finance), BMRCL, says, "Phase I, Reach 3 of Metro Rail from Dasarahalli to Malleswaram will be completed before April, 2013. The underground Metro from Chinnaswamy Stadium to Majestic and from Vani Vilas Hospital to Majestic will be completed. The Metro work for Phase 1, Reach 2 and 4 is on. The second phase of the Metro Rail project is yet to be cleared by the Central Government."
People's reaction: Kavya P, student: "It would be great to see Phase I of Metro Rail completed and running smoothly. It would ease traffic and provide faster connectivity. At least, this project must be free of scams and it will be a great boon to a growing city like Bangalore."
Better traffic management
Official speaks: The Bangalore Traffic Police hopes to make its men on the road more accountable and also instil a sense of discipline among the drivers in the City. The police will continue to cancel licences, wherever required.
"We will continue our campaigns for pedestrians' safety and emphasise on car pooling. The Traffic Management Centre will start functioning this year and there will be a 72-ft long screen to monitor the activities being caught on 175 cameras placed in different locations in the City. We will be adding 100 additional cameras," explains M A Saleem, additional commissioner of police (traffic).
People's reaction: Raghav Khanna, student: "I am shocked to see how indisciplined people are when it comes to following rules. More than the police implementing the traffic rules and imposing fines, I think people must see reason and follow the rules. Police must tighten the existing norms. The Traffic Management Centre will not help on its own unless the police clamp down on the violators."
As told to Nina C George
Expect more power cuts
Official speaks: Anand Naik, CGM corporate affairs, BESCOM, points out that the average response time of BESCOM to consumer complaints on 'power outage' will improve from the current 36 minutes to 15 minutes, and the resolution time from 60 minutes to 45 minutes.
"The RAPDRP project on automation of billing system in Bangalore by Infosys will be completed, and thus, your billing data will be available online. Under the transparency and open governance project, at least one-third of the functioning of BESCOM will be shared with public, real time. Balance two-third will be possible in next two years," informs the official.
He adds, "The bad news is that due to the work automation of entire Bangalore city network, there will be scheduled power outage, in the day time, from 10 am to 5 pm at least once in a week for a month in each area, till the entire City is covered in next one year."
People's reaction: Nikhil C, student: "With exams fast approaching, unscheduled power cuts are a concern. BESCOM must find ways to conserve electricity rather than put consumers through a tough time."
Better traffic management
Official speaks: The Bangalore Traffic Police hopes to make its men on the road more accountable and also instil a sense of discipline among the drivers in the City. The police will continue to cancel licences, wherever required.
"We will continue our campaigns for pedestrians' safety and emphasise on car pooling. The Traffic Management Centre will start functioning this year and there will be a 72-ft long screen to monitor the activities being caught on 175 cameras placed in different locations in the City. We will be adding 100 additional cameras," explains M A Saleem, additional commissioner of police (traffic).
People's reaction: Raghav Khanna, student: "I am shocked to see how indisciplined people are when it comes to following rules. More than the police implementing the traffic rules and imposing fines, I think people must see reason and follow the rules. Police must tighten the existing norms. The Traffic Management Centre will not help on its own unless the police clamp down on the violators."