Karnataka's budget aims to reduce pollution and decongest Bengaluru

The budget presented on Thursday set the rudder to guide Bengaluru towards a decongested and lesser polluted megapolis, at least if you go by the proposals.

BENGALURU: The budget presented on Thursday set the rudder to guide Bengaluru towards a decongested and lesser polluted megapolis, at least if you go by the proposals.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who holds the finance portfolio and presented the budget, has proposed six interconnected elevated corridors in the next four years at a cost of Rs 15,825  crore under hybrid annuity through Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL) to provide good transport in the city. Also, Rs 1,000 crore has been set aside for this in 2018-19 and is formulated keeping in view the elevated corridor and Bengaluru Metro scheme for easy commute.

Kumuraswamy has volunteered to himself chair an Integrated Transport Authority that will formulate a comprehensive action plan to coordinate BMRCL, BMTC, BDA, BBMP, and other agencies relating to land transport to establish hassle-free transport system.

Kumaraswamy approved taking up the Rs 11,950-crore 65-km long Peripheral Ring Road project. The state government has approved to take up this work through a Special Purpose Vehicle, which is in operation.
The budget has proposed procuring 80 electric buses and to encourage people to buy electric cars, 100 charging units have been proposed at a cost of Rs 4 crore.

The chief minister also appears determined to solve the chronic problem of the frothing Bellandur Lake. Allocating Rs 50 crore to rejuvenate Bellandur Lake, an additional Rs 10 crore has been earmarked for a scheme to encourage farmers to grow soap nuts so that residents in the neighbourhood use these for washing and not detergents.

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