TO EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION: Bangalore Development Authority Commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda explaining the design of the proposed Magadi Road-Chord Road underpass to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in Bangalore on Tuesday. — Photo: Sampath Kum ar G.P.

BANGALORE: Eleven thousand sites in Arkavathy Layout will be distributed within the next 10 to 15 days, Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy said here on Tuesday.

The distribution of sites would be made on basis of priority to those who need them the most, Mr. Kumaraswamy said at the inauguration of the casualty block of Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, constructed by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). He said the distribution of sites would be made on a "need basis" and would not be influenced by any political pressure.

The Chief Minister said that he had called for a meeting of civic agencies, including the BDA, Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board. The meeting, which would be held shortly, would discuss the civic works that were required to improve the city. These would be taken up on a priority basis.

The Chief Minister said that shortly after assuming office, he committed himself to working for the poor and the needy. He reiterated that he would ensure that all their needs were met.

Health Minister R. Ashok said the State Government would soon set up 275 trauma care centres on highways all over the State. He said the centres were to maximise the chance of road accident victims to get medical care within the golden hour, which is the hour following the accident.

Minister for Sericulture and Textiles Katta Subramanya Naidu has said the Government is in the process of acquiring land for industrial parks in Magadi, Tumkur and Ramanagaram.

R. Roshan Baig requested the Chief Minister to set up a neurology and cardiology department in the hospital. The casualty block was commissioned in December 2004 and completed in February 2006. It was built at a cost of Rs. 9.8 crore.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the HBR Commercial Complex, which was commissioned in 2003 and houses 31 shops. The complex, which is the 15th that the BDA has developed, cost Rs. 3.84 crore.

Apart from the two inaugurations, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for two projects — Magadi Road-Chord Road junction underpass and Ramamurthy Nagar underpass.

The Magadi Road-Chord Road junction underpass is estimated to cost Rs. 26.85 crore and is being constructed to decongest traffic in the area. The underpass would be 530 metres and would have a vertical clearance of five metres. The project is expected to be completed within 12 months.

The Ramamurthy Nagar underpass is expected to cost Rs. 14.15 crore. It will have three-lane bi-directional traffic, service roads and RCC drains.

Stuck in traffic

Probably for the first time since he became Chief Minister, Mr. Kumaraswamy faced the same frustration most road users in the city do. He was stuck in traffic for about 15 minutes near the Indian Institute of Science.

The Chief Minister along with Mr. Ashok and other members of legislative Assembly were proceeding to HBR Commercial Complex after laying the foundation stone for the Magadi Road-Chord Road underpass when the bus they were travelling in got caught in traffic. The reason for the snarl was a bus that had broken down in the middle of the road.

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