TAKING STOCK: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Transport Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy at a meeting with Transport Department officials in Bangalore on Friday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday said that several projects, including the formation of Outer Ring Road and Core Ring Road, would be taken up on priority basis to decongest traffic in the city, especially the heavy vehicle traffic.

Addressing presspersons after chairing the review meeting of Transport Department here, the Chief Minister said the tender process for the Core Ring Road to be built at a cost of Rs. 375 crore would be completed by April 2007. The six-lane road has been proposed to connect Yeshwanthpur and Jayanagar, and K.R. Puram and Byatarayanapura.

He said: "Elevated road over the drainage network in the city is also being considered. The city has a network of 186 km of drainage and elevated roads could be constructed to enable the buses to ply on these roads."

Mr. Kumaraswamy said the BMTC had sought separate bus lanes in the Outer Ring Road, which would increase the speed of the vehicles as well as bring fuel efficiency. Besides, he said, KSRTC had sought Rs. 400 crore for construction of new depots and bus stations.

He said: "BMTC will introduce 1,000 Volvo to its fleet to attract those who are commuting on two-wheelers and cars. The 50 Volvo buses already introduced by the BMTC have succeeded in attracting many commuters."

The Chief Minister said that five companies had participated in the global tender floated for construction of 46-floor tower on the Subashnagar bus stand premises. The project would include construction of bus stand and Metro Rail station.

Private bus stands

He said that private bus stands would be constructed at four entry points to the city, and 50 acres of land would be earmarked for each of these bus stands. He said: "Formation of these bus stands will keep the private buses out of the city roads." Earlier, the Chief Minister held discussions with senior officials of BMTC, NWKRTC, NEKRTC and KSRTC.

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