Industrial cover to go up by 13 pc

Industrial cover to go up by 13 pc
Deccan Herald

More and more industries are being allowed in the wake of high demand from multinational companies.


The City already has about one-third lesser green cover, and it is likely to have five per cent more industrial cover in the next decade. The draft Master Plan 2015 (revised Comprehensive Development Plan-- CDP) provides for as much as 13 per cent of the City coming under industrial areas.

Greater industrialisation is being allowed as there is a high demand from multinational companies. Not only is industrialisation expected to be up, the City planners (and CDP-writers) envisage a mixed land-use pattern in these areas -- primarily in the high-tech zone. Allowing residential buildings near industrial areas would mean that people don’t travel long distances to their work-place and cause incessant traffic jams.

High-tech zone

The high-tech zone alone will account for 25 sq kms of the 54 sq km earmarked for industrial areas.

“Earlier, we never permitted residences around industrial areas, as there was the problem of smoke or effluent. But the high-tech zone doesn’t have such hazards-- it’s for non-polluting industries such as IT or ITES. So, we can allow residential areas in this zone. People travel from Koramangala and other areas to Electronic City today, causing high traffic congestion. If they live near their offices, there’s lesser traffic,” explained a Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) Town Planning member.

Of the 25 sq km high-tech zone, as much as 15 sq km is in the eastern part -- areas between Electronic City and Whitefield. This is where the BDA plans its ‘High-Tech City’ too. Another ten sq km is earmarked in different areas -- mostly along Bannerghatta Road, Mysore Road and Old Madras Road.

“As for actual industrial zones (for manufacturing industries), buffer land has to be left free between these and residential complexes. Houses won’t be permitted in the 16 sq km of land that is specifically industrial zone,” the official said. About 13 sq km of industrial areas will dedicated just for logistics -- transport, cargo and warehousing terminals.

Industrialisation

There will be little industrialisation along Chikkaballapur Road, as some areas come under the Bangalore International Airport Area Planning Authority.

Way of development

The high-tech zone will be developed under the Coordinated Planning Scheme (CPS), said BDA sources.

The BDA has proposed five kinds of ‘planning schemes’ to develop infrastructure for each zone -- for instance, the areas improvement scheme (where slums or under-served areas can be developed by private parties after BDA approval) or the heritage conservation scheme.

The CPS relates to zones that are designated for large-scale developments exceeding 15 acres (within Bangalore Mahanagara Palike limits) and 25 acres (in the rest of Bangalore metropolitan area).

Under this scheme, an area will be developed (complete with roads and amenities) through consultations, perhaps partnerships, between private and public players, within basic guidelines.