Road row delays facelift for police station

Road row delays facelift for police station
Vijay Times

Bangalore: An inevitable clash between the police and the Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BMP) has threatened to affect renovation work at the High Grounds police station, considered to be one of the most important jurisdictions covering the official residences of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister.

The bone of contention is a 300 sq ft to 400 sq ft portion of the police station planned to be constructed, but is facing the threat of demolition from the BMP as it falls under the latters plan to widen the Bellary Road. The problem has affected work which began 10 months ago. Works have remained suspended for the past four months.

Gopal B Hosur, Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration), says the construction work had been stopped due to the threat of BMP demolishing the structure after renovation.

While BMPs road-widening work is yet to take off, those funding the police station renovation are pressing for early completion of the work.

"In order to avoid the delay and the sponsorship problem for renovation work, we will go ahead with the construction. The renovated police station will be inaugurated soon," Hosur said.

He said the police had also consulted architects for rebuilding a portion of the police station building after the probable demolition.

Interestingly, the BMP served a notice on the police only after the renovation work had begun.

Meanwhile, the BMP officials confirmed that notices had been issued to the police station concerned. They also said if the construction is completed, a portion of the police station would be demolished as per the notice.

Policemen attached to the High Grounds police station are currently functioning from a makeshift shed in a parking area opposite the Bangalore Turf Club on Race Course Road.