Flyover, bus app among citizens’ ideas adopted

Vadodara: When the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) asked citizens to provide suggestions for the budget, most expected that minor works with small allocations would be incorporated. The civic body has gone much further and included a flyover, stormwater drains and other projects from among these suggestions.
For the first time, the VMC adopted the process of a participatory budget by including suggestions from citizens. It received 1,982 suggestions, many of which were not relevant to the VMC, or were complaints on civic services or were matters pertaining to governance. However, 284 ideas did make it to the budget.
Allocations made on the basis of suggestions include a flyover from Bhayli station to Kalali, which will pass near the Atladara Swaminarayan temple. VMC has earmarked Rs 90 crore for this. It is the second-highest allocation for a flyover in the budget, after the ambitious Alkapuri to Jail Road flyover, on which Rs 300 crore will be spent.
Based on citizens' suggestions, the VMC will also be taking up a major stormwater drain project that will bring relief to residents of the Subhanpura area. The VMC accepted a suggestion for a stormwater drain from Jhansi Ki Rani Crossroads to Gotri Road.
Another area where people made lots of suggestions was urban mobility. Citizens asked for more buses on city roads and a mobile application for bus services. These were accepted and included in the budget.
The demand for a garden in Bhayli was also made by multiple people. The VMC already has a garden in the area but will be preparing another, as the area is large, and one garden may not be sufficient.
Citizens also vented their ire at the civic body by email. Residents of new areas of the city were peeved at being sent property tax bills while no civic amenities were provided. A demand to scrap the Vasna flyover, which has met with resistance, was also made. Another citizen wanted the VMC to replace damaged manhole lids even on internal society roads, while someone else sought a 30% rebate on advance property tax. These suggestions were, expectedly, not included.