Politicians turn spotlight on B'lore's infra this election

By Faye D’souza/CNBC-TV18

Bangalore's failing infrastructure is staring its citizens in their face. Political parties hoping to win thier votes are not leaving it out of their list of election promises. Developing infrastructure has gained as much mind space as colour TVs and loan waivers.

Bangalore needs a new urban plan for development and that's exactly what Karnataka's political parties are promising to deliver in the run up to assembly elections in the state. Here's a sample:

VS Acharya, BJP leader said, "We would like to re-plan the whole of Bangalore or the metropolitan area. Priority will be give to infrastructure, roads, drinking water, electricity, public amenities, and the greenery will be retained."

BJP also wants to improve the current bane of Bangalore, the road to the new airport. Competition is not far behind, the congress party  in its manifesto has promised the very poor, free colour TVs and 25 kg of rice a month at Rs 2 per kg. It has not left out development in Bangalore either. The party's manifesto includes the infrastructure perspective of next 20-30 years for Bangalore and the state.

Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka Congress President said " We will help farmers, students, backward classes, minorities, women and create better infrastructure in Bangalore and other places.

The Janata Dal on the other hand plans to improve infrastructure, provide proper housing and basic amenities for the city's urban poor, apart from widening its roads.

Post delimitation the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and the Bangalore urban district have put together 28 constituencies as opposed to the 16 constituencies earlier, that’s 66 lakh voters, the largest in the state. It’s no wonder then that none of the political parties want to leave the problem of the city out.