After delimitation, however, the number of constituencies that make up Bangalore has shot up to 28 and the urban region is being viewed with increased interest by the main political parties. Even the Janata Dal (S), whose leaders have publicly thumbed a nose at Bangalore in the past, has joined the Congress and the BJP in dedicating a special section in its manifesto for Bangalore. Excerpts from what the manifestos of the main political players say about Bangalore:

The problem...

Congress: Need for new administrative set-up due to increased size of city area, collapse of infrastructure, lack of permanent solutions for waste disposal, lack of basic services to poor, lack of implementation of master plan.

“Disaster happened when the previous coalition government of JD(S) and BJP together destroyed the brand name of Bangalore by sheer negligence and contempt”.

BJP: Manifold increase in vehicular traffic, insufficient infrastructure, inadequate water supply, polluted environment, lack of facilities to the urban poor.

“Bangalore is under pressure to retains its ‘global city’ status. It is not enough to invite investors; human resource must also be nurtured”.

JD(S): Land grabbing mafia, influx of criminals, crawling traffic, multiple overlapping agencies responsible for infrastructure.

“A growing Bangalore has a growing number of problems”. Lok Paritran (a new party created by ex-IITians and professionals): “Crumbling infrastructure has been source of concern for many employers and employees in the state. Poor roads, chronic power shortages and traffic congestion in many cities have contributed to the state not unlocking its full economic potential”.

The solution...

Congress: “The Congress party promises that it will restore the pride of Bangalore internationally once again by giving due importance and attention to develop and upgrade infrastructure in the city”.

On administrative reforms: “we will initiate action to legislate the creation of a single agency for all the state-level service providers under the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike”.

Infrastructure: completion of existing programmes in a time-bound manner, inner core ring roads, freeing up of intersections, widening of roads in high-density corridors.

Environment: introduction of compulsory CNG for government vehicles.

BJP: “Bangalore has the potential to become the No 1 city in India and an internationally prominent metropolis. “First and foremost Bangalore needs good city leadership. We therefore propose that the mayor must be directly elected by the people”.

Creation of a metropolitan planning council for the BBMP area and a transport authority.

Explore possibility of bringing water to Bangalore from new sources like the Hemavathi river.

JD(S): “To tackle the problem of the exploding population growth of Bangalore our party has decided to adopt the models of vertical growth seen in the Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai”.

Houses for the poor to be built in land seized from land grabbers.

Multi-level flyovers to overcome slowing moving traffic, bus bays to allow smooth flow of traffic, satellite entertainment complexes like malls and multiplexes around Bangalore and a comprehensive planning authority for the city.

Lok Paritran Party: Sufficient funds to the Bangalore Metro Project to complete the project without delays.

Highway corridors and tunnel roads will be built to avoid traffic congestion.Public private partnership will be encouraged to improve air links between Bangalore and other major cities.