If you think treading on a skywalk (foot over-bridge) will elevate your sense of joy, here is some good news. The BBMP plans to construct 14 skywalks across the city—in addition to the seven that are already there—to not only mitigate pedestrians’ woes but to help traffic police regulate jaywalkers on busy roads.
The BBMP floated tenders on February 18, inviting bidders for the construction of skywalks at various areas in the city on a design, build,own, operate and transfer (DBOOT) basis. The bidders would be authorised to maintain these skywalks for 20 years to recover the construction cost.
The selection of bidders is expected to be completed in 20 days. “We will select those who have the capacity to construct the skywalks and offer more revenue to the BBMP,’’said YM Ramachandramurthy,
joint commissioner (advertisement), BBMP. The BBMP secures `1.2lakh per year as rent from hoardings put up on each of the seven skywalks that were constructed around eight years ago.
The skywalk being built near Cauvery Bhavan on Kempe Gowda Road is expected to generate `9 lakh per
year as rent. However, according to sources, the BBMP is mulling over cancelling the contracts signed with those who are maintaining the seven skywalks.
“We want them to pay tax on the space used for advertisements,but they are not complying. Hence, the standing committee on taxation has recommended to cancel the contracts for the maintenance of these skywalks,’’ said a BBMP official.
However, observers said skywalks are a ploy to bolster the BBMP’s coffers. Meanwhile, there is a plea to provide elevators at select skywalks.“How many pedestrians use skywalks? The design and size of these skywalks have been ruining the city’s beauty. These are aimed at generating revenue for the advertisement agencies and the BBMP,’’ said Kathyayini Chamaraju, trustee, CIVIC, a city-based civil rights forum. Vinay Srinivas, a civil rights activist, said the BBMP should encourage people to walk on the footpaths and use bicycles. “It will be better if the authorities concerned provide pedestrian-operated signals instead of constructing skywalks
The selection of bidders is expected to be completed in 20 days. “We will select those who have the capacity to construct the skywalks and offer more revenue to the BBMP,’’said YM Ramachandramurthy,
joint commissioner (advertisement), BBMP. The BBMP secures `1.2lakh per year as rent from hoardings put up on each of the seven skywalks that were constructed around eight years ago.
The skywalk being built near Cauvery Bhavan on Kempe Gowda Road is expected to generate `9 lakh per
year as rent. However, according to sources, the BBMP is mulling over cancelling the contracts signed with those who are maintaining the seven skywalks.
“We want them to pay tax on the space used for advertisements,but they are not complying. Hence, the standing committee on taxation has recommended to cancel the contracts for the maintenance of these skywalks,’’ said a BBMP official.
However, observers said skywalks are a ploy to bolster the BBMP’s coffers. Meanwhile, there is a plea to provide elevators at select skywalks.“How many pedestrians use skywalks? The design and size of these skywalks have been ruining the city’s beauty. These are aimed at generating revenue for the advertisement agencies and the BBMP,’’ said Kathyayini Chamaraju, trustee, CIVIC, a city-based civil rights forum. Vinay Srinivas, a civil rights activist, said the BBMP should encourage people to walk on the footpaths and use bicycles. “It will be better if the authorities concerned provide pedestrian-operated signals instead of constructing skywalks
No comments:
Post a Comment