Bengaluru : BBMP seeks ‘CSR funds’ for 12 ‘world-class’ roads
Bengaluru : BBMP seeks 'CSR funds' for 12 'world-class' roads (Representational Image )
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) seeks ‘CSR funds’ for 12 ‘world-class’ roads, for the first time.
While BBMP will asphalt these roads whenever required, it wants private companies to keep them spic and span. In return, the companies will get dedicated space for branding.
Bengaluru’s civic body is exploring the use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds for the first time to upkeep 12 TenderSURE roads spanning 13.41 km in the city centre.
While the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will asphalt these roads whenever required, it wants private companies to keep them spic and span.
The BBMP estimates the maintenance cost of these roads at Rs 50 lakh/km per year. The roads identified for maintenance in a public-private partnership (PPP) include Church Street, Cunningham Road, Residency Road, Richmond Road and St Mark’s Road.
The firms will have to fix the footpath interlocks whenever necessary, paint the cycle lanes, maintain ornamental plants, repair broken drain slabs, replace defunct street lights and beautify the roads. The BBMP will be responsible for asphalting the roads and painting the main carriageway.
The BBMP will give firms 3 feet x 2 feet space at four places on a one-kilometre stretch for branding but will not allow any commercial advertisements, officials said.
While the concept of engaging private firms for the annual upkeep of roads is new to Bengaluru, both the BBMP and Namma Metro have taken the help of corporate firms, including builders, to maintain the road medians in several parts of the city.
BBMP Engineering-in-Chief BS Prahlad is hopeful that many firms will come forward. He described the 12 TenderSURE roads as “world-class” but conceded that the BBMP hasn’t been able to maintain them due to various reasons, including delayed payments to contractors. “We hope to utilize the CSR funds. This will also give private companies an opportunity to contribute to the city,” he said.
The roads identified are:
Residency Road, Richmond Road, Museum Road, Vittal Mallya Road, St Mark’s Road Commissariat Road, Cunningham Road, KG Road, Nrupathunga Road, Modi Hospital Road, Church Street Museum, and Cross Road.
