The Karnataka government has endorsed 11 projects to improve Bengaluru’s air quality. The city has received crores of funding on the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission.
11 projects to improve Bengaluru’s air quality
These 11 projects have been divided between the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), the Department of Horticulture, and the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT).
From vertical gardens to mini-forests and new parks below existing flyovers to pedestrian and cycling facilities, strict measures have been taken to improve Bengaluru’s ambient air quality under the Centre’s National Clear Air Programme (NCAP). Bengaluru has received a Rs 140-crore grant on the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission.
Measures taken
According to Decan Herald, the BMTC has been given various tasks, including electrifying bus depots (Rs 20 crore), procuring five double-decker buses (Rs 10 crore), promoting public transport (Rs 1 crore), and providing 100 electric feeder buses (Rs 13 crore).
Meanwhile, the BBMP has been given projects to procure mechanical street sweeping machines (Rs 30 crore), build paved footpaths (Rs 30 crore), create vertical gardens (Rs 5 crore), collect and transport construction waste (Rs 20 crore), and develop parks (Rs 5 crore).
“A sum of Rs 5 crore has been allocated for the creation of vertical gardens on Metro pillars, BBMP flyover pillars, and also at BMTC bus stations and depots. Three agencies – BBMP, BMRCL, and BMTC – will undertake this work,” said a BBMP official.
Officials also informed that many other initiatives are also being planned under NCAP to reduce pollution levels. It has proposed to develop mini-forests in BBMP limits on the lines of Miyawaki forest for Rs 1 crore.
In a relief for walkers and cyclists, the civic body will take up construction of newly paved footpaths (minimum 50km) to create pedestrian facilities in major arterial and sub-arterial roads in the city for Rs 30 crore.
