Thick-thin funds for paper projects

BANGALORE: As BCC announces funds forover a dozen flyovers and subways every year, the allocation graph of the pastfive years has been forming curious curves. Each BCC budget drastically revisedthe funds earmarked for the same old projects.Take, for instance,the proposed flyover from Sirsi Circle to Town Hall junction. Even as theflyover from Sirsi Circle to N.R. Road was opened in 1999, the extension ramp toTown Hall is being featured in every BCC budget since 2000.While the2000-01 budget had earmarked Rs 4 crore for the project, next year theallocation was Rs 5.5 crore. In 2002-03, the allocation was Rs 1 crore andsubsequently halved in 2003-04 and 2004-05 budgets. And BCC had long backdecided against this project as "it would mar the aesthetics of Town Halljunction".Many plans, including flyovers at South End Circle,Minerva Circle and Hudson Circle and subways at Police Corner, Town Hall andRajajinagar first block, keep on appearing in each budget with fluctuatingallocations. The subway at Mysore Bank Circle was granted Rs 80 lakh in 2000. In2002 and 2003 budgets, the allocation was cut to Rs 8 lakh, but hiked to Rs 1.5crore in 2004.In 2002-03 budget, the BCC went berserk and announced17 flyovers at a total cost of Rs 100 crore, six subways at Rs 1.16 crore and 23commercial complexes and new markets. All these, in fact, were fresh allocationsfor old proposals.Interestingly, after the budget was presented lastyear, corporators had moved additional resolutions proposing 54 grade separatorsat a cost of Rs 1,000 crore. Imagine four grade separators on a ring road at adistance of 250 metres from each other!