Pomlala Sunil Kumar | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Pommala Sunil Kumar, Commissioner Bengaluru North City Corporation, was proactive in addressing people who start with North Corporation citizens with a direct phone. The Hindus caught up with Mr. Kumar for an interview.
Modified excerpts:
Hind: How would you ensure that residents really feel the difference compared to the old BBMP system?
Commissioner: The new system has definitely changed. Now we are able to reach people more efficiently and deal with several questions of a priority base. Previously, even small problems would take a long time to notice or solve, but now there is a faster reaction mechanism.
Hinduista: What are the models of income generation you are looking at?
Commissioner: We have already collected 600 GBP Crore in real estate tax, which concerns evaluated properties. However, there are still insurmountable properties, as well as cases where the evaluated properties have been underestimated or undervalued. We plan to use an application based on GPS to capture real estate details, identify any underestimation and the necessary repairs that will increase tax collection. In addition, there are assessed properties for which taxes have not been paid for several years. We will try to bring insurmountable properties to the system, map them and start collection. We are also investigating other revenue flows and thorough collection of road cutting fees. Overall, we focus on optimizing current systems and generating additional income in a systematic way.
Hindus: What temporary measures to relieve the company for immediate relief and in what areas? For example, underpasses in places like Hebal and Nagavar often see heavy floods.
Commissioner: From the beginning, it focused on the vulnerable low -laid area, especially those around the Hebal overpass, Manyata Tech Park and Nagavar. We have identified 80 to 85 such areas within the corporation’s limits and check the continuing work on arterial and subarterial roads. This is coordinated with data from police applications such as Astram, road conditions and potholes.
Executive engineers have identified the “gangmen”-the coils living near these vulnerable low-laid zones who can get to a place within five minutes for immediate intervention. This is to be quickly solved by floods, because such incidents often cause traffic cuddling and related disturbances, forcing the traffic police to enter.
Hindu: Incroachments on Lakes and Buffer zones continue despite repeated complaints, even IT companies and large developers are charged with intervention. How will you act against these interventions and ensure equal treatment no matter who the violator is?
Commissioner: We have identified the solution. We have also communicated with participating companies, because there are existing structures that make the removal of land demanding. Our main interest is the safety and well -being of the public and we have issued clear instructions to ensure it. However, the cooperation of some companies was limited. If necessary, we are ready to initiate legal steps to resolve violations. Our goal is to ensure that the interventions are resolved and that the next season of the rain does not deteriorate the situation.
Hindus: What visible changes on Earth can expect North Bengaluru under your watch to expect during the year?
Commissioner: The main focus is the acceleration of all the remaining waiting projects, including the work of Allasandra Lake, the work on the white, the overpass project and the main runoff of the rainwater from the Yelahanka lake to Lake Jakur to ensure early completion and improved infrastructure for the city.
Published – October 12, 2025 09:04
