BENGALURU:Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday underlined the need for broader footpaths to provide pedestrian safety.
He had earlier said footpaths built under TenderSure would be narrowed down to make way for vehicular movement. He has now changed his opinion.
“Earlier, TenderSure footpaths looked broad. After completion of the work, they don’t look so big. Not all people use cars. We need to provide safety for pedestrians,” he said.
He took a position favouring pedestrians, long neglected in Bengaluru, and said they were higher in number than those who use vehicles.
On Namma Metro, Siddaramaiah said the first phase would be done by March next year.
The second phase would begin soon. “We are committed to better roads and easier traffic movement,” he said.The government will develop 50 stretches of 1 to 2 km under TenderSure, he announced. “They may cause inconvenience during construction. But once done, they provide convenience,” he said.
‘People Won’t Mind’ :
Siddaramaiah defended his city rounds, and dismissed complaints that citizens were upset about them. “There is no option. People will put up with the inconvenience,” he said. “I made sure this time not many vehicles were in my convoy.” He said he would henceforth go on rounds on Sundays. “It will cause inconvenience to officials and not the public,” he remarked.
More Coming Up
An organisation called Jana Urban Space Foundation is spearheading TenderSure, with Sure being an acronym for ‘Specifications for Urban Road Extension.’ The project seeks to provide pedestrian-friendly roads with networked water, sewage, power, OFC and gas lines.TenderSure work on St Mark’s Road and Vittal Mallya Road was formally completed on Saturday. Brigade Road, Kempegowda Road and MG Road are expected to be done by January 2016.