Bengaluru’s Infrastructure Overhaul Gets Dedicated Independent Govt. Agency

The creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to handle major infrastructure projects, such constructing elevated corridors and underground roadways, is being discussed by the state government.

Major road projects in Bengaluru will probably be run by a separate government agency, much like the metro, water, and power supply services. The creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to handle major infrastructure projects, such constructing elevated corridors and underground roadways, is being discussed by the state government.

The plan will further curtail the fundamental duties of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which is expected to draw criticism. According to preliminary conversations, the new company may be called Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B.SIL) or Bengaluru Smart Mobility Infrastructure Ltd (B.SMIL). This new organization will only work on large-scale projects, much to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). According to information obtained, Bengaluru Smart City Ltd (BenSCL), which has almost finished its projects, would be dissolved to create a new company.

As part of the Brand Bengaluru effort, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar inaugurated projects worth over Rs 1 lakh crore earlier this year. The projects include sky decks, a double-decker (road-cum-metro) project, elevated corridors, the white-topping of 1,700 km of highways, and two tunnel roads (KR Puram-Nayandahalli and Hebbal-Silk Board Junction) for Rs 40,000 crore.

According to people close to the minister, the BBMP would not be able to guarantee the timely completion of these projects, hence they would all be moved to the new SPV. However, given that the government intends to establish smaller municipal corporations, the action will restrict the BBMP's authority.