The Hindu : Front Page : VMC puts BRTS project on hold

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Tuesday, Aug 07, 2007
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VMC puts BRTS project on hold

Staff Reporter

CPI(M) stages walkout; CPI sails with Congress

Project to be delayed by a year and a half
Congress floor leader pilots the resolution

VIJAYAWADA: The Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project proposed to be implemented in the city under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) would be delayed by a year and a half. The general body of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) passed a resolution to this effect at its meeting on Monday.

The resolution was passed after an animated discussion on the project and amidst walkout by CPI(M) members. While the ruling Congress proposed that the project be put on hold till 2008-09, the CPI(M) demanded that the project be shelved once and for all in view of the huge financial implications involved in it. The CPI, which extended support to its Left ally on almost all issues during the last two days of the meeting, chose to sail with the Congress.

CPI(M) corporators led by Ch. Babu Rao walked out of the meeting hall in protest against the ruling party’s decision to pass the original resolution.

Gulzar under fire

Municipal Commissioner Natarajan Gulzar, who intervened in the discussion during Mr. Babu Rao’s speech, remarked: “It is a waste of time to discuss about a flyover at Benz Circle.” The Marxists were soon on their feet taking exception to the remark.

“When a corporator is speaking, what right does the Commissioner have to say that it is a waste of time? Either he should withdraw his observation or it should be deleted from the records,” Mr. Babu Rao demanded. As the Commissioner did not respond to Mr. Babu Rao’s demand, Mayor Mallika Begum was forced to intervene and announce the deletion of the remarks from the records.

The approved resolution, which was introduced by Congress floor leader Kunuku Rajasekhar, called for taking up works relating to underground drainage, water supply, solid waste management and Basic Services for the Urban Poor (BSUP) like slum development on priority basis under JNNURM. These schemes should be implemented all over the city before 2008-09. The BRTS project could be taken up only after providing basic amenities to the people, he said.

Congress corporator S. Narasaraju said that the corporation was taking up water supply, underground drainage, slum development and other schemes with an estimated cost of Rs. 350 crores, out of which it had to shell out Rs. 150 crores to Rs. 200 crores as its share. “It is necessary to improve the financial position of the corporation and also ensure that the (BRTS) project does not burden people. Hence, the project should be taken up only after 2008-09,” he demanded.

CPI floor leader P. Gowtham Reddy, TDP floor leader Y. Ramana and others spoke.

They supported the resolution after expressing some reservations.

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