No ‘friends’ for CDP

No ‘friends’ for CDP
Deccan Herald

Bangalore Friends’ Association has documented suggestions and objections to the master plan and compiled certain requirements.

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA)’s Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP - 2015) is still being debated over its authenticity and long-term feasibility. The Bangalore Friends’ Association has documented suggestions, comments and objections to the master plan, based on requirements drafted by the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act 1961.

Flaying the BDA for its ‘narrow vision and discrepancies’ in the zoning pattern, the Association has called for a common Act, rule and a guideline binding all local administrative bodies to undertake well-planned development in Bangalore.

It has also opposed the concept of Mixed Residential Area (marked Ca in CDP maps displayed at Yavanika on Nrupatunga Road), contending that the BDA cannot encourage all kinds of developments in a particular area.

Areas identified and reserved for transportation and related logistics were too small and unwieldy and there was no clear indication about the percentage of area involved to form good new roads, the document said. There was no provision to declare any area as Green Belt under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961, the BDA Act 1976 or the Karnataka Municipalities Act, it added.

The document also made exhaustive comments/objections on mapping of individual areas:

Malleswaram: Adjoining Sankey Tank, a private property is shown as Government property, while the property is currently being developed by a private builder. Most parts of Malleswaram are shown as Transformation Zone (Bd). Under the Bd zone, anyone can develop any property for residential or commercial purposes.

Indiranagar: Both sides of the 100 Feet Road are marked as Transformation Zone. These are basically residentially allotted sites by the BDA and the 100 Feet Road is formed for easy movement of vehicles and for regulating traffic.

Koramangala: The 80 Feet Road connecting to Sarjapur Road on either side is marked as commercial. A majority of the sites on this road are allotted by BDA for residential purposes.

Jayanagar: Almost the entire area is identified as Transformation Zone. The area has to be identified clearly as what sort of development exists on what streets. A chunk of residential area in Basavanagudi is also identified as Transformation Zone.

Rajajinagar: All along the Main Chord Road on either side, properties are earmarked under Transformation Zone. These are mainly residential areas linking important roads and the plan provides for mixed development, which could prove disastrous.

Peenya: HMT Residential Quarters is identified as Government property. Many portions of the HMT property have already been auctioned in public by the Government.

For further details contact the Bangalore Friends’ Association, at No 1/22, 2nd Floor, Balaji Nilaya, Bugle Rock Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore — 560 004.