Karnataka government allotts Rs 6,044 crore for Bengaluru infra development

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has allocated Rs 6,044 crore for Bengaluru infrastructure development in the budget for 2016-17, according to IANS report. "In the outlay of Rs 14,853 crore to the state urban development department, Rs 6,044 crore will be for infrastructure projects in Bengaluru," he said. Admitting that Bengluru was the nation's growth engine and the nation's start-up capital, the chief minister said his government had decided to add sheen to 'Brand Bengaluru' by achieving effective convergence of the grants given to the city through different institutions. "We are conscious that Bruhath Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) needs additional resources. We have provided Rs 5,606 crore to the civic corporation since 2013-14 and an additional Rs 1,976 crore was granted as special investment plan in this fiscal (2015-16)," he said. The civic body will take up various infrastructure works across the city at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore under the chief minister's special package. "The civic body will develop 1,500 km of roads to provide alternative routes, develop IT-BT hubs in the eastern and northern suburbs, provide multi-level car parking in select locations, build grade separators in busy junctions, develop lakes and construct storm water drains," Siddaramaiah said. The state government will provide Rs 4,223 crore outlay to the BBMP for various civic works in the ensuing fiscal.