BENGALURU, 27 JULY

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has called on Opposition leaders from City to join hands in building a better Bengaluru. "Let's set aside our politics and work together to build a better Bengaluru," urged Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru Development Minister, on Saturday.

He was addressing elected representatives of all political parties representing the City, who cutting across party lines participated in 'Public Voice-Government Voice' programme at Vidhana Soudha here to discuss Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill and issues concerning the Capital City.

"There is no need to worry about the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill. Let’s debate and we are open to take your feedback," he said.

Shivakumar said the Bengaluru Development Department is challenging, but they are trying to give a new shape to the City. Kempe Gowda built Bengaluru, Kengel Hanumanthaiah built Vidhana Soudha and SM Krishna made Bengaluru a Global City. "Out City is growing rapidly, and we need to act quickly to bring order,” he said.

Highlighting infrastructure issues, Shivakumar said the previous BJP government incorporated 110 villages into BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) without providing basic infrastructure. “Water is a major issue, and we need to recharge groundwater," he said.

“We have received 70,000 suggestions from the public on improving Bengaluru and we are working on them within the legal framework. TDR (Transfer of Development Right) has become a big mess and we are coming out with a new system,” he told the MLAs, MLCs and MPs from Bengaluru.

The minister said there are no tourist attractions other than Vidhana Soudha and "hence, we have decided to build a sky deck."

During the event, he released a booklet on "Brand Bengaluru" alongside Opposition Leader R Ashoka, Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, and BBMP Commissioner Tushar Girinath. -PTI/Salar News