TDR roads to be widened

TDR roads to be widened
Vijay Times

In the next few months, riding along some of the major roads in the City would be a pleasure. This is what the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials have to say with regard to the widening of roads under its Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) concept.

Even as the civic authority is confident of executing the TDRs to acquire lands on the identified roads to widen them, a majority of the land owners on these roads are either unaware of the entire concept or they are not ready to part with their land. Theres more confusion among owners of commercial buildings.

Following Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamys directions to take up widening of 12 major roads in the City on a priority basis under the TDR, the BBMP has geared up to widen four roads at the earliest at a cost of Rs 17 crore.

Four of the 12 roads where widening works have begun are: Sheshadri Road, Palace Road, Race Course Road and Kasturba Road, BBMP joint commissioner (Enforcement) N Jayaram told VVi ij ja ayy T Ti imme ess. . The BBMP has entrusted the road widening task to the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) and has released Rs 17 crore towards it.

According to Jayaram, the majority of properties on these chosen roads belong to the government and the BBMP has been successful in convincing some of the private parties to part with their land in lieu of the TDR.

Some of the private property owners like Taj West End, Chalukya Hotel, High Point Apartment, High Grounds police station, Sophia School and others have agreed to it, he said.

"The KRDCL is in the process of finalising tenders for widening the four roads at the earliest and the work would begin shortly. The BBMP officials would help them remove trees that come in the way and it has been planned to plant five saplings in vacant places under the BBMP jurisdiction for each tree felled. Environmentalists have been taken into confidence," he said.

The Chief Minister has requested some of the government bodies to part with their land on Race Course Road, Jayaram said.

Meanwhile, the High Court has directed the BBMP to plant two saplings for felling of each tree. The BBMP has completed a survey of all the 12 roads. Simultaneously, a series of meetings had been held with builders requesting them to provide market rates for the TDRs from those who have parted with their land, he said.

The roads would be developed under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).