Bangalore’s growth: Planning still in progress

Sprawling malls and multi-storey complexes continue to sprout at a frenetic pace in India’s technology capital.

However, increasing concern that Bangalore’s development is unplanned has prompted experts in various fields to gather in the city on Thursday to find ways to ensure the growth is solid and not fluid.

The meet, Destination Bangalore, will see participation by senior civil and police officials, urban planners and representatives of various industries, infrastructure companies and real estate developers. The experts will assess whether master plans for Bangalore’s growth “are solid enough to cater to the exploding population of the city and how all stakeholders can add value to these plans,” Shyam Sundar Pani, president of Global Initiative for Restructuring Environment and Management (GIREM), which has organised the meet.

“Bangalore is truly a melting pot of sorts, with people across the country and the world choosing Bangalore as one of the preferred destination to do business. We need to set the pace of development for the next decade to come by building on the strengths of the city,” he said.

Besides, considering whether Bangalore growth story is solid or fluid, the participants will assess the role of metro in easing commuting problems, security aspects and whether the large IT firms can share transportation services to lessen vehicle congestion on roads.

On shared bus services, Pani said, “The IT industry today employs over a million people in Bangalore. There are large clusters of companies operating out of IT parks.  Most of the companies operate their own transport systems. They not only cost to the company, but also create more cars on road,” he said.

“Shared bus service is an attempt to get all transport managers of companies to work together on route plans based on their employees pick-up and drop points, thereby collectively collaborating to solve the issue of transportation for their employees by clubbing employees of different companies to travel on the same route by bus rather than cab,” Pani said.

On the follow-up after the meet, he said besides preparing a formal report “specific tasks will be identified and taken to the government for their consideration, with the promise that GIREM along with its partners will work closely with the concerned authorities to make them a reality.”

GIREM is a platform for corporate real estate professionals to exchange ideas and share knowledge in key areas related to infrastructure, urban planning and environment, added Pani.