BMP gets nod to set up `TDR clinic'

BMP gets nod to set up `TDR clinic'

The Hindu

Chief Minister directs civic body to complete widening of 12 roads by December 31

# Civic agencies told to shift utility lines within 90 days
# Work on 12 roads to start within 15 days
# 20 roads will be taken up for widening in the second phase
# BDA told to ensure that land developers purchase TDR from the BMP


BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday permitted the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) to go ahead with its proposed move to set up a "transferable development rights" (TDR) clinic wherein the civic body can buy and sell the "rights" and create a demand for TDR.

Following a presentation on the road widening project using TDR by BMP Commissioner K. Jairaj and other officials, the Chief Minister told presspersons that he had directed the BMP to complete widening of 12 roads running into 28 km by December 31.

"I have directed other civic agencies such as Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM), Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTCL) and the Public Works Department (PWD) to shift their utility lines within 90 days. These agencies should coordinate with the BMP in this project," Mr. Kumaraswamy said.

Directing the BDA to insist that all land developers should purchase TDR from the BMP, the Chief Minister said the BMP should check encroachments on road margins.

"Road lines should be adhered to strictly," he said.

Various Government Departments, including Bangalore University, the University of Agricultural Sciences and the University of Veterinary and Fisheries Science have been directed to hand over the required land for widening of roads within a month, he said.

Issues regarding acquisition of land belonging to the Union Government and Ministry of Defence would be taken up with the Centre at the earliest.

Tenders for widening of the 12 roads would be called immediately and work would start within 15 days, the Chief Minister said.

"As the BMP needs to acquire only 25 per cent of private land on these 12 roads, there should not be any problem in completing work by December-end. During the presentation, the officials have told me that the project requires 38 per cent of land from State Government Departments and 13 per cent from Defence and Union Government. All hurdles will be cleared for early completion of the project," he said.

In the second phase, 20 roads would be taken up for widening. The list of roads would be finalised in consultation with the City Police, BDA and City Municipal Council (CMC) authorities, he said.

The 12 roads that would be widened before December-end are: Bellary Road, Palace Road, Seshadri Road, Nrupthunga Road, Devanga Hostel Road, Hosur Road, Hosur-Laskar Road, Lower Agaram Road, Airport Road, Cottonpet Main Road, K..G Road and Race Course Road.

Ministers R. Ashok and Zameer Ahmed Khan, Chief Secretary B.K. Das, Mayor Mumtaz Begum, Deputy Mayor Lakshminarayana and BDA Commissioner M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda were present during the presentation.