If BCC has its way, even god must step aside for road

If BCC has its way, even god must step aside for road
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: A slice of old Bangalore is not all that will go if the Bangalore City Corporation’s (BCC) plan to widen roads in congested Chickpet and Avenue road areas comes through. On the list are 16 and 17th century Chola temples as well as an old dargah and a church. Nagarthpet, Cottonpet, Akkipet, Cubbonpet and Avenue road are the heritage areas that are under the hammer in the name of development.

When everyone is worried about losing their built up areas that serve as shops and residences, the magnificent gopuras of the temples stand in eloquent silence.

While they are nestled among huge complexes with staircases dangerously leading out on to the street far below, historians suggest that the ancient monuments should be retained. Well-known historian Suryanath Kamath told this website’s newspaper that an alternative should be found. ‘‘There are many temples here which are more than 400 years old. We can preserve them and they can be converted into circles, wherever possible,’’ he said.

‘‘We have to respect the sentiments of the people who are worshipping at these places since hundreds of years’’, said Kamath adding that the monuments can also be shifted to safer places if the BCC so deems.

The roads in and around Chickpet, Cubbonpet, Cottonpet, Nagarthpet and neighbouring areas abound with 80 temples, in one of which the famous Bangalore Karaga begins and ends. The famous Sri Dharmaraya Swamy temple on Kilari road is also under the road-widening project and a section slated to be demolished, a temple official said.

The temple, houses two exceptionally fine images -one of Sri Dharmaraja Swami and another of Lord Krishna, and is best known for its association with the centuries old colourful Karaga festival.

Prakash Jain, a shop owner on Kilari road said that many temples on this road might lose their originality due to road widening. Famous Santhoshimata temple, Jain temples on RT street and in Chickpet, Raghavendra Swami temple on BVK Iyengar road are few famous monuments.

Another temple in Nagarthpet, which faces the threat of widening, is 300 years old. The Venugopal Krishnaswamy temple might lose 10 feet of its finely carved shrine, a priest feared.

Chandrashekar Balachandran, Cultural Geographer and Founder of Dharani Trust told this website’s newspaper that the monuments should not be touched.

‘‘Change is inevitable, but history should not be lost. The cultural plurality and diversity can be seen in these areas. The Rice Memorial Church, Moinuddinn Darga and many ancient Hindu temples should remain untouched’’, said Balachandran.

‘‘If we lose our historical landscape, we lose the reminders of collected memory. Authorities should sketch out an innovative solution where commerce continues and the area becomes more pedestrian friendly’’, he added.