Latest news with #B-SMILE
Deccan Herald
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Deccan Herald
Karnataka government effects changes in BBMP posts
B-SMILE is a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) created to execute major infrastructure projects in the city.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bengaluru's chief engineer moved to new agency
Bengaluru: With an aim to revamp urban infrastructure management, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) engineer-in-chief BS Prahalad has been transferred to the newly formed Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) as its director (technical). The move comes as part of the govt's decision to implement high-impact urban projects through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with an enhanced annual budget of Rs 7,000 crore. Prahalad had been entrusted with the task of improving the condition of roads and storm water drains, two areas where the BBMP had come under fire from Bengalureans, before he was put in-charge of the city's big ticket projects mooted by DCM DK Shivakumar and will be executed under B-SMILE. The transition, formalised through govt order dated May 23 also involves a reorganisation of the BBMP's engineering divisions. Prahalad's former role was dissolved, with structural works merged under the chief engineer (health and sanitation) and road development functions handed over to the chief engineer (road infrastructure). The restructured model aims to streamline operations and avoid overlapping mandates as the city gears up for a new governance framework under the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act-2024.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
BBMP chief engineer Prahlad moves to B-SMILE as Director (Technical)
The Karnataka government has announced the merger of the post of BBMP Engineer-in-chief with Director (technical) of Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE). As per the Government Order, B.S. Prahlad, who had been holding the BBMP engineer-in-chief post, has now been appointed as Director (Technical) of B-SMILE with immediate effect. The post will be equivalent to that of Principal Engineer, BBMP, reads the order. Mr. Prahlad had been serving as the engineer-in-chief while also holding the posts of Chief Engineer (Road Infrastructure) and Chief Engineer (Storm Water Drain.) The new merger would essentially mean the scrapping of the post of engineer-in-chief at BBMP and potential new appointees to the other two posts. SPV for infrastructure During Karnataka Budget, 2025-26, the government expressed its intent to develop Bengaluru's infrastructure by allocating a ₹7,000 crore grant every year. B-SMILE was formed as a special purpose vehicle to implement major development works in the city and came into effect through an order earlier this month. It is expected that the State government will undertake the construction of projects such as elevated flyovers, white topping of roads and so through the SPV. The latest order noted that the SPV urgently required the post of full-time director (technical), and hence, the merger. 'As the Greater Bengaluru Act has come into existence, it is proposed to divide the BBMP within four months and create new city corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Administration Act-2024. Accordingly, it has been decided to merge the post of chief engineer of the BBMP with the Director (Technical), B-SMILE on a full-time basis,' the order read.
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
B-SMILE to start with ₹7,000 crore financial commitment from the State
Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE), a dedicated special-purpose vehicle (SPV) to execute big ticket infrastructure projects in the city, will have an initial financial commitment of ₹7,000 crore from the State government, but is authorised to attract private investment as well. This dual approach is designed to enable greater flexibility and resource mobilisation for large-scale urban infrastructure projects, sources said. However, the company will be fully owned by the State. According to the Memorandum of Association, the Government of Karnataka will hold a 90% equity stake in the company, while BBMP will retain the remaining 10%. B-SMILE will be governed by an 11-member board, led by a full-time Chief Executive Officer, who is an IAS officer. The board will include the Mayor of Bengaluru, the Commissioners of the Bangalore Development Authority and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the Engineer-in-Chief of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), and three experts from the private sector. This blend of public officials and domain specialists is expected to lend both administrative strength and technical expertise to the organisation. The board is expected to be further revamped after the implementation of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024 and when the present BBMP is split into multiple corporations. In that scenario, B-SMILE is expected to be tasked with most pan-city projects that cut across the jurisdictions of multiple corporations, sources said. One of the first major tasks before B-SMILE will be to oversee the construction of 40 km of tunnel roads under the city, which is part of a larger blueprint to decongest surface traffic. In addition, the company will be responsible for implementing a city-wide network of flyovers and underpasses, building new roads along the buffer zones of stormwater drains and developing an iconic 250-metre high skydeck, all ventures are closely associated with Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar. With B-SMILE takes charge of big infrastructure projects, the corporation/s will continue to manage routine urban maintenance, such as pothole repairs and minor roadworks. According to senior officials, this bifurcation of responsibilities will allow B-SMILE to focus solely on long-term planning and its execution, while the corporation/s remains engaged with day-to-day civic operations.
