Issue 13 | 10 Feb. 2007

'Introduce Point-to-Point buses'

A cross-section of Bangaloreans grilled the Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, and other civic heads from BDA, BMTC, the Commissioner of Police, etc at a programme titled Today & Tomorrow Bangalore telecast recently by Chandana TV and ETV. The interaction threw up a number of issues of direct concern to the residents.

Sri Keshavkumar, the Secretary of Federation of Residents Association, Jayanagar, was one of the active participants and he spoke to TWB about the grievances put forth by him viz.

The implementation of the Self-Assessment Scheme, of which public awareness and understanding is very low. The levy of property tax at Rs 1.60 per square feet is very high. A owner of a 3,000-sq. ft building will have to pay around Rs 5,000 as tax.

The BMTC should consider introducing point-to-point buses (like in Chennai), say, from JP Nagar to Corporation.

The BMRCL should give adequate publicity about the proposed Metro Rail route - where the stations are coming, which are the areas that will suffer maximum displacement of houses/commercial establishments, etc.

The police are paying lip service to meetings with the citizens in the neighbourhood. As Police Commissioner, Sangliana had introduced neighbourhood watch scheme which has now become defunct. To control the worsening law and order situation in the city, this scheme should be revived so that there is better and regular interface between the police and the people.

The CM gave a patient hearing to the grievances of the people. His very presence ensured that the civic heads take our problems more seriously. Such programmes should be held more frequently as they can truly empower the people.