Bengaluru, Oct 22 (NationPress) Former Union Minister and Congress MP P. Chidambaram expressed his support for Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw's initiative to fund road repairs in Bengaluru. However, he emphasized that the primary concern is not a shortage of funds, but rather the ineffective execution of public works.

His comments emerged during a discourse between Shaw and Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar regarding the deteriorating condition of roads and civic facilities in this IT hub.

"I was intrigued by Mrs. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw's proposal to finance some road improvements in Bengaluru. It’s an admirable offer! Kudos to her! Yet, the challenge with public works is not the absence of funds; it lies within the execution of these projects," Chidambaram stated in a social media post.

He proposed a novel approach that would hold a supervising entity or industrialist, like Shaw, accountable for both timely and high-quality project delivery.

"The government can adapt Mrs. Shaw's concept: Public funds, tenders, etc., can be utilized to choose the contractor. Once selected, the contractor will work under the oversight of a willing company or industrialist, such as Mrs. Shaw," Chidambaram explained.

He elaborated that in this setup, while the contractor manages the construction, the supervising entity would be tasked with ensuring the quality and punctuality of the work.

"The contractor will handle the public work (for example, roads). However, the supervising company or industrialist will be accountable for quality and timely delivery. Any penalties or cost overruns will be the responsibility of the supervising entity," Chidambaram noted, suggesting that cities like Chennai or Bengaluru could be perfect testing grounds for this innovative model.

Shaw, a prominent business figure in India, has recently received attention for criticizing the state of Bengaluru’s roads, leading to a public exchange with Shivakumar.

Her social media comments questioning local authorities prompted a strong rebuttal from the Deputy Chief Minister, who accused her of losing touch with her roots and insinuated a personal agenda behind her remarks—an allegation Shaw has since refuted.

Reports later revealed that Shaw is willing to personally finance road enhancement projects in the city. Shivakumar subsequently expressed his support for her idea and assured her of the state government's full cooperation in the road projects she identified.

Recently, Shaw and Shivakumar met, ostensibly for an invitation to her nephew’s wedding, but the discussion also included Bengaluru’s development, innovation, and a broader vision for Karnataka's progress, according to Shivakumar.