The assembly elections in Karnataka expected to be held in May this year, seem to have thrown the state’s Chief Minister in a bit of a hurry. As reported, Congress leader Siddaramaiah has started to inaugurate incomplete projects in Bangalore, which some might dub as an attempt to give the public a false sense of development.
As reported, Siddaramaiah went on an inauguration spree in Sunday covering the city’s areas like Mylanahalli, KR Puram, Magadi Road and HSR Layout. The inaugurated projects included, “alternate road to KIA at “Mylanahalli”, “Bagalur lake’s development work”, “Hennur junction flyover”, “revamped Agara lake in HSR”, “Swabhimana tree park in HSR layout”.
The reports have claimed that all the above projects are incomplete apart from the Swabhimana tree park which is almost ready.
When it comes to the alternate road to the Kempegowda international airport, 50% of it needs asphalting and widening. Some cable work too is incomplete. As per additional chief secretary M Lakshminarayan, it would be ready in a week. The Hennur flyover still needs another layer of tarring and isn’t yet open to the public.
Incidentally, Siddaramaiah had embarked on a similar incomplete project inauguration spree last Thursday when he inaugurated a multi-level parking facility and the first phase of Okalipuram signal-free corridor.
Turns out that as per MLA Suresh Kumar, the inauguration of the eight-lane signal-free corridor should have been postponed until the concrete properly dried up. When it comes to the multi-level parking facility at Freedom Park, its capacity is pegged to be 580 four-wheelers and 500 two-wheelers. But it was inaugurated so prematurely that the current facility open for public use is a mere 34 for four-wheelers and 50 for two-wheelers.
Incidentally, the inauguration of incomplete projects was also seen in case of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Akhilesh was accused of inaugurating various far from complete projects like Lucknow-Agra expressway, Gomti riverfront and Chief Minister’s Secretariat before the model code of conduct kicked in ahead of UP assembly polls.