Expert panel to be formed to prepare blueprint for Bengaluru's development: K'taka Deputy CM DKShi
Bengaluru, Jun 17: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said an expert committee would be constituted to prepare a master plan or a blueprint for comprehensive development of Bengaluru city in six months.
Construction of "tunnel roads" in the city and development of satellite towns were among the suggestions that came across as Shivakumar, who is also in-charge for Bengaluru Development, held a meeting with leaders from various fields regarding the development of the state capital, under the title 'Brand Bengaluru'.
"After rounds of consultations, we will constitute a committee of government officials and those willing to contribute from the private, to prepare a blueprint, a master plan for Bengaluru in six months," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here after the meeting, he said many among those who attended the meeting were ready to contribute both in terms of ideas and financially, or were willing to take up projects like development of lakes among others.
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Stating that he will hold discussions with officials regarding what transpired in the meeting and come out with a time-bound programme, the Deputy CM said another round of meetings will be held next week where the opinions of people from various fields will be heard.
A website will also be launched and the opinions from the public will be collected, he said, adding, the process of making a grand plan for the comprehensive development of Bengaluru will be launched after that.
Forty-two leaders from various fields including industrialists, information technology, biotechnology, education sector, real estate, entrepreneurs, among others participated in the meeting.
Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan, Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairman and MD of Prestige Group Irfan Razack, co-founder of Zerodha Nikhil Kamath, BJP MP from Bangalore North and former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda, were among those present at the meeting.
According to Shivakumar, many issues including high traffic corridors, extending metro rail service, reduction of traffic congestion especially at high density traffic junctions in the city, solving the problem of waste management, purification and reuse of sewage water for industries and parks, improving slums, road widening, construction of peripheral ring road and elevated roads, were discussed in the meeting.
Some expressed displeasure over the suburban rail project not being initiated, he said, adding suggestions have also been received about completing the pending works of 'NICE Road' and using it as a ring road, time-bound completion of projects, and eliminating corruption.
Noting that suggestions also came regarding construction of tunnel roads crisscrossing the city, Shivakumar said: "Few of those who attended the meeting said -- get people from outside for this (tunnel roads), let them invest and maintain it for about 50 years and then give it back to the state. They said the government should take a bold step in this regard or else it will be a big problem for Bengaluru in the days ahead."
Also there were suggestions on opening certain businesses 24/7, pooling of vehicles, parking issues, among others. Some leaders stressed on the need for developing satellite towns around the city to manage the growing influx of people into Bengaluru.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
