Dissent brews in Bellary BJP as 48 office bearers resign
Bellary: Minister KS Eshwarappa's son-in-law, BJP General Secretary KA Ramalingappa expressed outrage against MLA Somashekhara Reddy, saying: "Do not threaten anyone else by using the name of former minister Janardhan Reddy, Sriramulu. Nobody will scare by your threats.
Speaking to reporters in the city on Tuesday, he said, "We are not from those who change parties every day and night. You (Somashekhar Reddy) are responsible for the Sanna Fakkirappa's defeat. Don't ruin party discipline," he said.
It's not three years since he came to the party. Is it correct to issue the letter of recommendation to Somasekharareddy's close friend Dammur Shekhar. He lied that Sriramulu and Devedrappa had issued the recommendation letter. Who is Anand to give the letter of recommendation. Is he there in the party. Have you thought that you can do anything you want, and hijack the party? That's your nightmare. What does the district in-charge minister knows about the district. Government appointments must be made through the Core Committee as per party discipline. It is not right to hijack it.
Mass resignation: Protesting against the appointment of Dammur Shekhar as BUDA chairman, 48 office bearers of BJP, including Bellary district president, tendered mass resignation on Tuesday.
Dammur Shekhar's appointment order cancelled: The state government has withdrawn the order to appoint Dammur Shekhar as chairman of Bellary Urban Development Authority. The decision was taken following the mass resignation of Bellary local BJP leaders, office bearers and activists in opposition to the appointment of MLA Somashekhar Reddy's aide Dammur Shekhar as BUDA chairman.
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Adani Group emerges lowest bidder for Bengaluru’s 16.75-km tunnel road project
Bengaluru: The Adani Group has become the lowest bidder for both packages of the proposed 16.75-km tunnel road project in Bengaluru, according to sources familiar with the bids opened by Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE).
According to a report published by Deccan Herald on Monday, the government estimated the entire project to cost Rs 17,698 crore, while the Adani Group has quoted Rs 22,267 crore. The ports-to-power conglomerate’s bid is about 24% higher for the first package and 28% higher for the second than the government’s estimates, a gap that could prompt authorities to seek the state Cabinet’s approval on the tenders’ fate.
M Maheshwar Rao, Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), who is also the Managing Director of B-SMILE, declined to comment.
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In all, four infrastructure companies had participated in the tenders for the project, which has been proposed under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, with 40% funding from the government and the remaining investment to be raised by the private concessionaire.
During the technical evaluation, the Adani Group and the Hyderabad-based Vishwa Samudra Engineering Ltd qualified for the financial round.
According to the report, Dilip Buildcon was disqualified due to a clause that bars firms linked to collapsed bridges or tunnels, while Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) was rejected because its joint venture (JV) partner did not meet technical requirements.
With only two companies left in the fray, the Adani Group emerged as the lowest bidder, ahead of Vishwa Samudra.
The tunnel project officially named the North–South underground corridor, is part of the Congress government’s ambitious to ease Bengaluru’s traffic congestion by building two major underground roads (totalling 40 km) along with 13 flyovers and elevated corridors.
The project is the brainchild of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru development minister.
The proposal, however, has faced criticism and political opposition, especially from senior BJP leaders, who object to the alignment that requires acquiring six acres of Lalbagh Botanical Garden, a historic green space.
As per the report, Urban mobility experts have also warned that the tunnel corridor may clash with the alignment of Namma Metro’s Phase 3A, possibly affecting the metro expansion.
