Bengaluru setting benchmark not competing with Hyderabad or any other city: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday asserted that Bengaluru is setting a benchmark, and it is not competing with Hyderabad or any other city.
Shivakumar, who is also the Minister for Bengaluru Development, was responding to opposition leader R Ashoka's demand urging him to react, after Telangana CM Revanth Reddy reportedly mocked Bengaluru's traffic congestion and pollution while promoting Hyderabad, recently.
"Bengaluru is not competing with any city. Bengaluru is setting a benchmark. Bengaluru will always lead and others have to follow. Bengaluru has its own unique challenges and we will handle them effectively. Cities are not judged by complaints, but by contributions. Bengaluru will always grow high," Shivakumar said during the discussion on the city's issues in the Legislative Assembly.
He said he did not want to discuss Hyderabad or other cities.
Noting that in a survey on Global Tech Market Top Talent, Bengaluru ranks 6th globally, while Hyderabad is at 24th place, the Deputy CM said, "We do not need to compete with Hyderabad. Bengaluru is not competing with Hyderabad. Bengaluru has 250 engineering colleges and 70 medical colleges. No other state in the country has this. Our state is producing 13,940 doctors."
"Talents nurtured here are going abroad -- 50 per cent have stayed back. ISRO, the first national law school, HMT industries, and ITI were all established here. This is why Bengaluru has grown, and we want to preserve this," he added.
The whole country is watching Bengaluru. "When I went to the Davos Summit, I saw the priority given to Bengaluru there. Companies from America and Europe are asking for time to discuss investment. Bengaluru is setting a benchmark for other cities," he said.
Highlighting the various infrastructure projects taken up in Bengaluru under the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government, he, however, said, "Now, no grants are coming from the Centre for Bengaluru city's development. I had met the Prime Minister and appealed. I had hoped Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance Minister) would help, but she did not. We are managing from our own funds."
Noting that he came to Bengaluru at age 6 and has stayed here ever since, the Deputy CM said, "Bengaluru has given me everything. I must give something back to Bengaluru."
"I cannot be here (in politics) forever. I may be in politics for another 10-15 years at most. I am trying to contribute something in the opportunity I have been given. I alone cannot do everything. All of you must also give valuable suggestions to me in this democratic system," he appealed.
Pointing out that even though the traffic issues in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Delhi are worse than Bengaluru, the city gets more coverage for its issues, Shivakumar said. "We have taken many steps on traffic. Roads in Bengaluru are only 8 per cent of the area. Road widening is needed, but after the 2013 compensation legislation, compensation must be given at double the rate. So road widening is impossible." That is why the government is going ahead with the Bengaluru Business Corridor, he said.
"Land owners have been given compensation under the 2013 Act. For Phase 1 of the project, 80 per cent of land acquisition has been approved. Tenders will be called soon. This road will ease half of Bengaluru's traffic congestion. Thanks to HUDCO for agreeing to provide a loan of Rs 26,000 crore in a single day for this project," he said.
Noting that since road widening inside the city is impossible, the government is proceeding to build tunnel roads, the Deputy CM said, there is no other option to ease Bengaluru's traffic.
"For the tunnel road, land acquisition at a few points will cost Rs 2,000-Rs 3,000 crore. Beyond that, Rs 17,000 crore is needed for road construction. There is a big difference between our tender and tunnel road tenders in other states. Our cost will be Rs 700-Rs 800 crore per km, while other states have spent Rs 1,300-Rs 1,400 crore per km," he explained.
Shivakumar said the government was committed to bringing in the Apartment Act and to implement it.
"I will discuss with opposition MLAs and gather their opinion. It will then be implemented even through an ordinance if necessary," he said.
Stating that potholes exist everywhere, the Deputy CM said, "We have largely filled Bengaluru's potholes. Rs 1,700 crore has been spent on 150 km of new roads. We were the first in the country to allow the public to report potholes to the corporation. Filling potholes is an ongoing process and we are continuing it."
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Udhayanidhi accuses BJP of not releasing funds for TN
Gobichettipalayam (PTI): Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday charged the BJP government at the Centre with not releasing funds to the state and accused it of "snatching" TN's rights.
Addressing a poll rally at Gobichettipalayam in the western Erode district, the DMK youth wing chief claimed the Centre has not released funds to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore for education.
"They (union government) have snatched all our rights," he charged.
With regard to the Centre's proposal for delimitation, he said chief minister M K Stalin was the first person in the country to raise the voice against the union government's move. He claimed that it was a "huge victory" for the INDIA alliance, as the bill was defeated for lack of majority after the opposition voted against it in the Lok Sabha.
Listing out various welfare measures implemented by the DMK government, he said the existing "Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai" (monthly financial assistance for women) will be doubled to Rs 2,000 if DMK was voted to power again.
The deputy chief minister charged that the BJP and AIADMK have tried to stall it by moving the court. "At present more than 1.3 crore women have benefited from the scheme", he said.
"Similarly, the breakfast scheme for the government school students will be extended till Class VIII", he said adding "more than 35 lakh college students across the state will be getting free laptops once the DMK government is formed".
Udhayanidhi also pointed out at the "Illatharasi" poll promise, providing Rs 8,000 worth of coupons to non-income tax paying women where they could buy or replace any household appliances of their choice.
Elections to 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 23 and the results declared on May 4 following counting of polled votes.
