Automated parking: Army says no to BMP

Automated parking: Army says no to BMP

The BMP approached the Army with a proposal to construct an underground parking lot in the Manekshaw Parade Grounds. But it was turned down by the Army.

Deccan Herald

Although there is stiff resistance from the public for introduction of an automated parking system on M G Road, the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has decided to go ahead with the implementation of the plan for want of an alternative land to provide parking.

The proposal by the BMP to take over Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground to build an alternative underground parking system has been turned down by the Army.

Sources in the Army have confirmed that they will not part with Manekshaw Parade Ground to any state agency for any construction purpose. “The Army is definitely responsible for nation building but we are not responsible for the nitty gritties of planning such as streetlights and clean streets. It is the duty of agencies such as the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and Bangalore Development Authority to plan and develop the City,” said the source.

Proposal turned down

“The Army did not respond to our proposal positively. We had only requested the Army to lend a part of the land for the construction of an underground parking lot. We had agreed to pay a nominal fee as rent,” Commissioner of BMP, K Jothiramalingam told Deccan Herald on Friday and added that despite resistance, BMP has decided to go ahead with the automated parking system on M G Road.

The sources in the Army said, “we rejected the proposal outright. What if a car loaded with RDX parks in the proposed underground parking system and the place blows up. The possibility of a terrorist strike on the Army base cannot be ruled out. So, we have to be alert at all times,” said the source.

However, the Army is clear on its stance. “We have been very careless in the past and have lost a lot of our land. We are not willing to risk losing anymore. There is this tendency among the people and state agencies to think that the Army is not using any of its open spaces in and around the City. This is not true. We do use every bit of our land for parades and for training purposes,” sources said.

Encroachments

It may be noted that more than 12 per cent of the total land area in Bangalore City belongs to the Army.

They have lost more than half of their lands due to encroachments from individuals and organisations. “There have been enough encroachments on Army land already. We are in need of land to provide accommodation for our own jawans. We are yet to construct 2,000 houses for our jawans. Where will we find land for the purpose?” sources in Army questioned.

The Parade Ground, now known as Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground, stretching over 1.5 km from East to West, and surrounded by a ride or mall called ‘Rotten Row’ was more or less the hub of Bangalore Cantonment. It is an open field of levelled dirt, which is used as a ceremonial space and also as a parade ground by the defence services.