BMP opposes Govt. move on parking lot contract

BMP opposes Govt. move on parking lot contract

The Hindu

K.G. Road multi-parking-cum-shopping complex ready

BANGALORE: The maintenance of the Kempe Gowda Maharaja Shopping Zone-cum-multistoreyed car-parking complex, which was inaugurated recently, has turned controversial.

Although the State Government has made it clear during the inauguration of the parking lot that the builder of the project will maintain the complex, the entire Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Council is against this decision.

The corporators, including those from the Congress, are opposed to the Government's decision, which was announced by the ministers who attended the inaugural function.

The differences were evident at the inauguration when the Mayor, R. Narayanaswamy, and the Deputy Mayor, N. Shantakumari, did not turn up.

In October last year, the BMP Council shot down a proposal to let the builder manage the complex. "It is only an oral communication and relates to the builder's share of 17 per cent of the parking space. Nothing has been given in writing. We still have a say in the maintenance of our share of 83 per cent. We will oppose the decision and force the Government to invite tenders," B.T. Sreenivasa Murthy (Congress) said.

Leader of Opposition B.R. Nanjundappa and BJP floor leader B.M. Mangala agreed with Mr. Murthy. While Mr. Nanjundappa said if the Government decision is for the whole parking lot, his party will oppose it and not allow its implementation, Ms. Mangala said: "If the maintenance is given to the builder, we will not only lose the land but also our rights".

"The Ram Narayan Chellaram Hospital and the Lady Willingdon T.B. Centre were demolished to make way for the parking complex. When the council resolved to permit the construction of the car park in 1999, it had been made clear that the builder should compulsorily set up a hospital within the complex. The builder has violated all norms and even deviated from the sanctioned plan. Instead of the hospital, shops have been built," he alleged.

Mr. Murthy said he had written to the BMP Commissioner, K. Jothiramalingam, on Tuesday seeking an explanation on the deviation. "I have written on behalf of the entire council. We will take up this issue in a big way in the next council meeting," he said.

The ground-plus-six-floor building (including basement and terrace), situated between the Kempe Gowda Road and the B.V.K. Iyengar Road in the city's central Business District (CBD), can accommodate over 400 cars at a time. It has been built at a cost of Rs. 20 crores through a joint venture between the BMP and Maharaja Buildtech.