Traders run for cover on wide roads plan

Traders run for cover on wide roads plan

BMP’s road widening exercise on the lines of TDR could cost 90 per cent of traders in the City’s old commercial hubs their businesses.
Deccan Herald

The new system of Transferable Developmental Rights (TDR) adopted by Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) to acquire private land for its Road Widening projects, has hit a high-hurdle with the traders opposing it tooth and nail in the City.

Traders, especially in commercial hubs like Chikpet and Cottonpet, have taken up cudgels against BMP. For them, their small shops are their lifeline, which they are not ready to part with.

BMP has decided to take up road-widening project on 45 roads and has adopted the TDR system of acquiring private land. Instead of paying compensation in cash, the owners whose land will be acquired will be given TDR, which will be 1.5 times of the land surrendered.

Swallowing up

This, for traders here literally translates into giving up their entire property and business.

For, most properties (shops) on Avenue Road, OCT Road, Balepet and Cottonpet Main Road, Mysore Road and several other commercial centres, are very small and the project would swallow almost all these properties.

“We will be left with nothing if we purchase TDR. If, for instance, BMP acquires 10 feet land on either side of the road, 90 per cent of shops will go,” Convener of the Avenue Road Commercial Association B N Rajshekar said.

Congested areas

TDR should be applied in residential localities, where residents can surrender part of their property without much ado.

But the new system will hit people in congested and commercial places like this, he explained.

“Where shall I go and what do I do by surrendering my property (a shop),” Ms Geeta of Durga Book Shop on Avenue Road wonders. Her shop is a small shed on a 4X15 feet plot, which she inherited.

“There are no traffic jams here. The area being a business centre, large number of people come here to shop. Simple measures like diverting traffic and proper parking arrangements will ease the congestion,” Mr N Agarwal of Banaras Sweets on Avenue Road says.

Indefinite strike

Shoppers on Avenue Road have warned of an indefinite strike if BMP fails to drop the project.

“We will block the entire road for traffic and stage a dharna,” shoppers warned.
Similar is the problem on OTC Road, Cottonpet Road, Mysore Road and other business hubs.

Most shoppers on Mysore Road are not aware that something called ‘TDR’ has now been introduced. “We have heard that corporation is widening the road. We will decided when it (BMP) comes to acquire the land,” shoppers said.

TRADERS' DEAL

Avenue Road Commercial Association has offered to lay footpaths and maintain parking lots on Avenue Road if the BMP drops the project on this road, reports DHNS from Bangalore. “We will ensure that there will be no traffic jams on the road. Besides, we will upgrade the civic amenities,” Mr Rajshekar said.