BMP likely to put off `transferable development rights' scheme

BMP likely to put off `transferable development rights' scheme

The Hindu

People may not show interest in the new scheme in the wake of the Koramangala demolitions, says official

# Government issues notification on February 3
# BMP had drawn up plan to widen 80 roads in phases

BANGALORE: If your building is located on one of the 45 roads identified by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) for widening in the first phase and if you have received a notice from the civic body asking you to opt for the "transferable development rights" (TDR), do not worry; the BMP is likely to postpone the controversial road widening scheme using TDR by some months. Following the demolitions in Koramangala and subsequent protests by residents, the BMP authorities are worried over the implementation of the scheme, sources in the BMP Council said.

The Government had permitted the BMP (through a notification on February 3) to grant TDR to property-owners and leaseholders for road widening. The rights envisage permitting an additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to owners whose lands are acquired for road widening. The BMP can acquire the lands without paying compensation and the owners have the option to either extend construction or sell the "rights" to a prospective builder in specified zones.

But the Koramangala issue has dampened the spirits of the civic body, which had planned to widen over 80 roads in phases this year. "As it is, the concept of TDR is yet to catch up with the citizens. Though it was announced several months ago, the response has been poor. Now after the Koramangala demolitions, who will want to but the TDR certificates, when they know for sure that the extra FAR they have used cannot be regularised at all," a senior official in the BMP's projects division said.

After the BMP announced TDR, people protested and demanded that the scheme be dropped as they felt it was not right to part with their land for just a certificate. To create a demand for this scheme, the BMP authorities had in May issued demolition notices to over a 1,000 buildings that have deviated from the original sanctioned plan on roads identified for widening.

The BMP wanted the citizens to respond to the demolition notices and voluntarily opt for TDR. "The response has been poor and we are aware that no one will show interest in the scheme in the wake of the Koramangala issue," the official said.

"TDR is an optional scheme and if citizens do not want it, the BMP will have to acquire the required land under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act and pay a `reasonable market value' of the property acquired as compensation to the owner. May be people will feel it is better to get compensated than get a certificate," the sources added.