From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jun 21: Vowing to do his best for building the image of ‘’Brand Bengaluru’’ and make the city attractive to the citizens and visitors, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday promised to double-check each and every project approved by the BJP regime in the city, especially during the last six months prior to the assembly elections and decide on resuming all suspended works only afterwards.

"There is no going back on the decision to suspend works approved six months before the assembly elections. I want to double-check all projects, will examine the estimates and the works will be resumed only after I am satisfied,’’ he declared.

Shivakumar, who is in charge of Bengaluru development, said he is determined to uphold and improve the image of Bengaluru.

Referring to the protests and opposition from BJP leaders about the suspension of the works in the city, he made it clear that he will not rescind the suspension of tenders and all the works sanctioned six months before the assembly polls.

The Lokayukta officials have already taken action about the release of Rs 123 crore for works in Rajarajeshwari Nagar without doing anything and said there are many more similar scandals, which need to be probed.

The Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) is also in a mess and there is
need for constituting a Special Investigation Team to probe the scams, he said and declared that the government cannot remain silent for such blatant misdeeds.

"I am more interested in the suggestions from the public and prominent
persons genuinely interested in the development of Bengaluru. I have already held discussions with leaders of all parties and legislators besides brand ambassadors in different fields,’’ he said.

With a view to eliciting suggestions from all people, the government has created an exclusive and dedicated website, www.brandbengaluru.karnataka.gov.in, inviting suggestions even from people abroad by June 30. All the suggestions will be studied, he said.

The deputy chief minister said several suggestions on various issues including decongestion of traffic, creation of high density corridors, extension of metro rail network, mono rail and suburban rail projects, road widening, converting NICE road into a circular road and forming tunnels to decongest traffic density are on the table.

He said he has already met several prominent leaders from different parties
and will meet former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai and other leaders as well.

The government wants a comprehensive action plan for the development of
Bengaluru, solving the garbage problem, traffic decongestion, filling up potholes and solving the problems of encroachment and other irregularities and face the problems of flooding during monsoon.

"We cannot solve everything overnight but bust have a time-bound plan,’’ he
said.

To a question on the charge by BJP leaders that rates have been fixed for
transfers within a month of Congress government, Shivakumar challenged the BJP leaders to lodge complaints with Lokayukta instead of making wild and baseless allegations.

Earlier in the morning, Kannada film star Shivarajkumar along with his wife
Geetha Shivarajkumar called on Shivakumar at his residence. Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa was also present.