Bengaluru is not ready for congestion tax, he said during a conversation with B.PAC's Revathy Ashok at Dakshin Dialogues 2023.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar speaks during Dakshin Dialogues 2023 in Bengaluru on Saturday, 7 October, 2023. (South First)
Reiterating the Congress’ commitment to hold elections to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said he was looking at the possibility of forming ward committees without holding the polls.
“The Congress party is committed to conducting the (BBMP) elections. We believe in creating new leadership and giving opportunities to decentralise power,” he said at the second edition of South First‘s annual conclave, Dakshin Dialogues, held in Bengaluru on Saturday, 7 October.
Elections to the BBMP were last held in 2020. It has been delayed due to various reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic, delimitation of wards, and a lack of consensus on reservation.
“It is our basic commitment, and that is why Rajiv Gandhi brought in the 73rd and 74th amendments, thereby strengthening the local bodies in the entire country,” said Shivakumar, who also heads the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.
Revathy Ashok in conversation with DK Shivakumar. (South First)
The deputy chief minister, who holds the Bengaluru Development and Town Planning portfolio in the Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet, recalled that the Congress had even gone to court to hold the BBMP polls.
“The BJP was not ready. But as soon as I took over the office, I found there were 240-odd unscientific wards. I want to divide Bengaluru into three to four corporations because one Bengaluru corporation commissioner cannot manage all of them,” he stated while conversing with Revathy Ashok, Managing Trustee and CEO of Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC), on Brand Bengaluru — Its Chaotic Present and Possibilities for the Future.
“I will find out if ward committees could be formed without holding ward elections — if the law permits,” he added.
On Bengaluru’s chaotic present, Shivakumar listed three major problems that have been plaguing the city: Traffic, solid waste management, and drinking water.
Bengaluru is considered to be a cosmopolitan, and international city, but notorious for its traffic. (X)
Referring to the traffic woes and the recent controversy over the possible imposition of a congestion tax to unclog Bengaluru roads, he said five major roads bring traffic to the city.
Naming the roads — Hosur Road, Old Madras Road, Ballari Road, Nelamangala Road, and Mysore Road — the deputy chief minister said even Union Minister for Roadways and Transport Nitin Gadkari admitted that those roads were not well planned.
Though not a planned one like New Delhi or Chandigarh, Bengaluru has been considered to be a cosmopolitan, and international city, but notorious for its traffic. Brushing aside the possibility of levying a congestion tax, he wondered what more could be done to ease the traffic congestion.
Saying that the members of the public would face difficulties while building flyovers, he said the other option would be to construct tunnels. “I don’t know if I would be successful, but I am putting in efforts to control traffic through tunnels. It will place a financial burden (on the government),” he stated.
On his move to develop Brand Bengaluru, Shivakumar said he discussed it with all stakeholders. “I asked for suggestions and received more than 70,000 suggestions. Even schoolchildren made certain suggestions. We will give more power to them (the people). The voice of the people of Bengaluru would be the voice of the chief minister and this is our commitment,” he asserted.
Commenting on the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) Bill passed in November 2022, the deputy chief minister said he wanted to frame a few more rules. The Bill is meant to oversee the planning, implementation, financing, and regulation of transportation.
“We want some more rules to be added to the BMLTA Bill, 2022. The entire transport sector — whether private or government players, including Metro, BMTC, autos, and private taxis — all have to work together. A separate plan should be done. Timings of schoolchildren and officer-goers have to be worked out,” he stated.
“The police have to be roped in. We are using artificial intelligence to study the timing of vehicle movements, and how they can be regulated. A lot of players have come forward to work on that aspect. We have to frame some rules to find apt solutions for Bengaluru’s mobility issues,” Shivakumar said.
On a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for setting up 160 Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based adaptor traffic signals, he said the Cabinet was not against it, but financial constraints were hampering its rollout. Such 20 signals have been installed at key junctions on a pilot basis.
Dakshin Dialogues is South First‘s annual thought conclave that brings together South India’s biggest political and judicial minds, and social activists. (South First)
“We have already undertaken a pilot project and now big players have come forward to take it up across the city. They are suggesting a win-win formula. A public-private partnership model will be followed. We are looking at the central government’s Nirbhaya funds for setting up signals and CCTV cameras,” he said.
The dedicated ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ is implementing initiatives aimed at enhancing women’s safety and security in the country.
Regarding transport modalities such as the introduction of suburban rails and the addition of more buses, Shivakumar said such initiatives were taking a new shape.
“Rail projects are being taken up in partnership with the central government because we cannot use their railway lines. Also, we cannot acquire more property. This is in the pipeline and it is high time we had an internal city train system,” he opined.
Shivakumar said more than 70 crore women were utilising the Shakti scheme, allowing them free travel on state-operated non-luxury buses. “I think with all the five to six corporations, we have to encourage public transport. We have very big road transport corporations. We are far ahead than any other state in the country,” he added.
Speaking on the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in the city, Shivakumar called for common sense and adherence to existing rules. However, he pointed out that strict implementation might affect the livelihood of some people.
DK Shivakumar speaking about Brand Bengaluru. (South First)
“Footpath hawkers or street vendors are a problem for the entire country. Until footpaths are cleared, no cyclists or pedestrians can use such infrastructure. The government of India has come out with a law favouring them, saying that the system should consider their livelihoods also,” the deputy chief minister said.
Soon after Shivakumar assumed office in May 2023, instructions were given to clear footpaths, triggering a huge hue and cry.
“Ultimately, we have concluded that street vendors should also be protected, without affecting the movement of pedestrians or cyclists. The common man and the street vendors should respect the law. The government is committed to enacting this law and a balance should be maintained,” Shivakumar said.
Dakshin Dialogues is South First‘s annual thought conclave that brings together South India’s biggest political and judicial minds, and social activists, on one stage.
While federalism was the primary theme of last year’s event, it is the core of each session this year, too, as South First continues to focus on the other half of the India story.
Dakshin Dialogues 2023 saw the likes of Vidadala Rajini, Khushbu Sundar, Shashi Tharoor, Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Dinesh Gundu Rao, and many others, discussing delimitation, the Southern model of governance, and much more.
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