It’s ‘open’ but its gates are closed

It’s ‘open’ but its gates are closed
Deccan Herald

Disagreement between BMP and private developer over ownership and revenue-sharing has prevented the complex from becoming fully operational.

A layman may be simple-minded enough to assume that when a public service building is “inaugurated”, it is synonymous with “open for the public”. But not the Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BMP).

The BMP “inaugurated” the Kempegowda Maharaja multi-storeyed parking-cum-commercial complex at the K G Road-B V K Iyengar Road junction on July 11, with a promise to end the parking menace in the choked Gandhinagar area. It has been three months since Transport Minister Mallikharjun Kharge inaugurated the Rs 20-crore complex, but the promise is yet to be fulfilled.

According to the Palike sources, the building’s actual operations, which were supposed to begin in August, were delayed because of differences between the BMP and its venture partner Maharaja Build Tech Pvt Ltd, over ownership and revenue collection issues.

Meanwhile, road users at Avenue Road and surrounding lanes, who were looking forward to the parking building, are a disappointed lot.

“It is very difficult to find a parking space on Avenue Road, K G Road and B V K Iyengar Road. It is either the mini transport vans or the shopowners’ two and four-wheelers that occupy the one side of the street where parking is allowed. For shoppers, there is absolutely no space to park their vehicles. When we went to the parking complex, all we found was a closed gate. There was not even a security guard to guide us,” complains R Chellukeshava, a frequent visitor at Gandhinagar.

Mayor Narayanaswamy, however, assures that the parking complex will be open by the end of October.

“There were a few unresolved issues with the private developer, but that has been sorted out,” he said.

According to the agreement reached between the BMP and the developer recently, the BMP will own 83 per cent of the complex, including basement, a part of the first floor, and the rest of the three floors.

Meanwhile, the developer will own 17 per cent, including the ground floor, and a part of the first floor. BMP will receive Rs 28 lakh per year as parking collection.

The maintenance contract of the entire complex has been awarded to the developer.