As part of the Smart City project, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has finalised 20 stretches of roads — a total of 20.19 km — all in the central business district (CBD) to be developed under the TenderSURE model.
The estimated cost of the project is ₹220 crore. The BBMP is all set to call for tenders in the coming week.
The decision to focus on the CBD has come in for criticism. BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad, however, defended the decision.
“Under the Smart City project, we have decided to concentrate all our efforts on the core city area as it belongs to everyone,” said Mr. Prasad. Other projects include redevelopment of the Shivajinagar Bus Stand, Russell Market, K.R. Market, and improvement of Cubbon Park.
The only pan-city project being taken up as part of the Smart City project is energy efficiency measures across the public lighting system in the city where sodium vapour lamps will be replaced by LED bulbs.
The core city has nine road stretches, totalling to a length of 11.67 km, developed under the TenderSURE model. “TenderSURE roads work only when there is a larger network of such roads as only then does it promote walkability. We want to redevelop all roads in the CBD under the TenderSURE model and this is a step in that direction,” said Mr. Prasad.
The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has awarded TenderSURE roads “commendable initiative award” under the “best non-motorised transport” category for 2018, he added.
However, TenderSURE roads have been met with criticism in the city. Activists have questioned spending over ₹220 crore for TenderSURE roads under the Smart City project.
“Their design that does not promote growth of trees, or account for street vendors. There have also been complaints of flooding of roads developed under the model. The BBMP needs to publish a study of TenderSURE roads and also design changes they have incorporated in the new roads,” said Vinay Sreenivasa, an activist opposing TenderSURE roads.
