Karnataka government approves B-Smile creation for Bengaluru's Rs 7,000-crore infrastructure push
Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd
(B-Smile), a
special-purpose vehicle
(SPV) tasked with executing major infrastructure projects in the city.
The SPV will begin operations with an initial corpus of Rs 7,000 crore, a sum already committed in the state budget. As per the memorandum of association (MoA), the govt will hold a 90% stake in the entity, while the remaining 10% will be allocated to BBMP. The new entity is expected to be headquartered in Vasanth Nagar, about 4km from BBMP's head office.
The SPV has been empowered to take up not just govt-funded initiatives but also infrastructure projects supported either wholly or partly by private sector investments.
"The entity will oversee the construction of 40km tunnel roads criss-crossing the heart of Bengaluru, a citywide network of flyovers and underpasses, new roads along the buffer zones of stormwater drains (rajakaluves), and a proposed 250-metre skydeck — all considered pet projects of deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar," explained a senior BBMP official.
BBMP, which is set to be restructured into smaller corporations, will cede control over several major infrastructure initiatives. The jurisdiction of the new entity will extend across Bengaluru Urban district. According to officials, the govt will give authority to the SPV to collaborate with or financially support other entities. This clause could allow it to bypass certain provisions of Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements Act.
The SPV will be overseen by a 10-member board. It will include a full-time CEO who will be an IAS officer, along with Bengaluru mayor, BDA commissioner, BWSSB chairman, BBMP's engineer-in-chief, a woman with expertise in infrastructure development and management, and two independent expert members. The additional chief secretary of the urban development department will serve as the board's chairman, while the chief commissioner of BBMP will function as managing director.
"While BBMP continues to manage day-to-day road maintenance, including pothole repairs, the new entity is structured to implement long-term, high-impact infrastructure solutions. The primary focus is to enhance mobility across the city," the official said.
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