Bengaluru: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai presented the Karnataka budget proposing several measures to address the traffic congestion in Bengaluru. To develop 75 important junctions with high traffic congestion, the government plans to allocate Rs 150 crore, and to manage traffic signals with Artificial Intelligence using Seamless Signaling to reduce congestion.
An elevated road of five kilometers from Tin factory to Medahalli at a cost of Rs 350 crore, an integrated flyover from Yeshwanthpur Railway Station to Mathikere and BEL Road, and a direct access rail network will further reduce traffic congestion.
The budget also includes the development of 120 km of arterial roads, white topping at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore, 300 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads in the city at a cost of Rs 450 crore, and the establishment of the High Powered Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority to coordinate the operations of various transport agencies.
To mitigate the effects of climate change and control floods in Bengaluru, the government plans to implement a project with World Bank assistance at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore. The budget also includes plans for waste management, such as operating auto tippers and compactors to collect dry and wet waste, establishing modern technology-based waste processing units in each ward, and mandating producers of large quantities of waste to process it at their level.
To prevent the encroachment of BBMP property and ensure its protection, the government plans to fence and erect boards and conduct surveillance through GPS software, costing Rs 35 crore. Additionally, 250 well-equipped “She Toilets” will be constructed in heavily populated markets and mega commercial complexes of the city.