Metro rail to expressway projects, Governor gets Karnataka going

Post the twists and turns of coalition politics, seen through October and November 2007...

Post the twists and turns of coalition politics, seen through October and November 2007, Karnataka — now under President’s rule — is making slow and contemplative progress in addressing its key issues. In the absence of a popular Government, the reins of the state are virtually in the hands of the UPA Government at the Centre. And the nearly two-month-old Karnataka Government under Governor Rameshwar Thakur has been very measured in its approach and is following a symptom-remedy governance method.

The state administration was, in fact, caught unawares at the start of its tenure when the Karnataka Milk Federation, headed by former minister H D Revanna, increased the price of milk by nearly 20 per cent. The administration has since then shown keenness to address the infrastructure issue in the state, especially in Bangalore. Governor Thakur has repeatedly stated that improving infrastructure is his key area of focus. In his first move in this direction, the Governor, just ahead of the New Year, cleared a proposal to create a Rs 3,800-crore metro rail link between central Bangalore and the city’s new international airport, located 37 km from the city.

In another move to improve the connectivity to the new airport, set to open on March 30, the administration decided to handover the construction of a dedicated expressway to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The expressway was to be originally constructed by a state Government agency and is among the several road projects around Bangalore that are being considered for a handover to the NHAI, instead of the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited, the Public Works Department and agencies like the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority, according to officials in the state infrastructure department. The handovers to the NHAI are aimed at speeding up projects, but have met with resistance from some state authorities, officials said.

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Under the Governor’s rule, Bangalore Connect, an interaction with key IT/ BT industry representatives to address city’s infrastructure-related issues, has been revived and attempts are being made for the creation of a citizen’s coalition to address issues. “We have been trying to put together a framework for a people’s effort to improve infrastructure and the traffic situation in Bangalore. It is in early stages and we hope to have something in place within a few weeks,” Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw said after a Bangalore Connect meeting on January 3.

“We are trying to involve all sections of the society in addressing traffic issues. It will take some more time for the plan to be in place,” Governor’s adviser P K H Tharakan said. Among plans reportedly being considered is the implementation of a proposal for an odd and even registration number based road access policy through the week for vehicles in Bangalore.

While the administration has kept the City Metro Rail project on track, it has not meddled in the litigation-heavy Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project, which has been stalled at the first phase due to land disputes at several sites. The Governor has attempted to address rural issues with the promise of a better and wide reaching compensation for the flood affected people in the state after a thorough review of measures already taken by the previous government. While steps have been taken to improve the minimum support prices for commodities like copra and tomato, the Government on January 11 promised to solve the demands of agitating sugarcane farmers, mill owners and mill workers within the next 10 days.

The Governor’s “Janata Darshans” on Saturdays, have resulted in the creation of a scheme to support 200 heart surgeries for the poor. The decision was taken after the Governor realised that a large number of people were approaching him with requests for medical help.

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The administration has also taken a pro-active stance against corruption by promising greater powers to the anti-corruption investigations under the Lok Ayukta. Among key administrative changes, the Government has effected widespread transfers of IAS, IPS and state service officers who were linked closely to the previous JDS-BJP Government. A re-examination process has been initiated with respect to projects pushed by the previous government, including an estimated Rs 40,000-crore real estate project in former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s constituency.

Key measures taken by the Governor

•Metro rail link to new airport cleared

• Airport expressway project given to NHAI

• Revival of citizen interactions

• Consideration of new ideas to control Bangalore traffic

• Transfers of officials deemed close to previous government

• Promise of compensation packages for all flood affected

• Promise of package for troubled sugarcane sector

• Better support price for some commodities

• Scheme to support 200 heart surgeries for the poor

• Promise to support anti-corruption initiatives

• Township project outside Bangalore under re-examination