The Hindu

• MCC gets approval for 12 projects 
• Bids to be invited from private firms to develop roads
• Bidding companies will have to invest their own money

Mangalore, Dec 1: Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) will take up 26 development works using Rs. 100 crore special grant allotted to it in the State Budget 2008-09. The Council passed an action plan of the corporation to this effect.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, while presenting the State Budget, had announced a special grant of Rs. 100 crore to each of the city corporations in the State, except for Bangalore, for infrastructure development.

On October 6, 2008, MCC had sent its action plan to the Department of Urban Development for its approval. The department, through its November 11, 2008 letter, has given approval for 12 development works to be undertaken during the current financial year by inviting bids, according to MCC Commissioner Sameer Shukla.

Of the 26 works planned, 19 works are related to concreting of roads. And, seven development works include computerisation of the corporation office and development of software for the corporation’s office administration.

Among the works included in the action plan are development of slaughter house, plugging water leakage in its main water supply line from Thumbay vented dam to the city and shifting of the utility lines before taking up road works, Mr. Shukla said.

Mr. Shukla said that the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) will prepare a city development plan at a cost of Rs. 20 lakh. The Councilagreed to pay Rs. 10 lakh to KUIDFC for the purpose.

As per the proposal, the KUIDFC will conduct a survey of existing assets of the corporation and prepare a report. It will focus on all aspects of the assets. This will help to prepare plans for infrastructure development works in future.

The Council also approved the proposal to entrust the development of roads by way of laying medians, footpath, erecting electricity poles and constructing storm-water drains on select roads to advertisement companies by inviting bids.

As per the proposal, private companies will have to make their own investment to develop roads. In turn, they would be allowed to erect hoardings free of charge till the period fixed by the MCC.