BBMP’s road widening plan hits roadblock

BBMP’s road widening plan hits roadblock
TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Bangalore: BBMP’s road widening plan on four arterial roads has hit a roadblock as many owners are refusing to part with properties.
The BBMP is also facing stiff resistance from environmentalists and companies who have laid underground cables.
The BBMP has taken up the job of widening Sheshadri Road, Palace Road, Kasturba Road and Race Course Road.
Recently, a citizens’ group submitted a memorandum to the BBMP commissioner urging him to not to cut trees till the BBMP could justify its plan.
The green brigade says that though the BBMP promised that trees will be retained along the medians by creating dedicated lanes for two and three-wheelers, the BBMP held an auction of trees.
On its part, the BBMP has decided to go ahead with felling of trees that stand in the way of the project. Though translocation of trees was mooted earlier, it did not take off due to technical hitches.
Some of the questions raised by green groups and citizens are:
Did the Tree Authority, which was to be constituted for every urban area under the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, give permission to the large-scale felling of trees?
Why didn’t the BBMP disclose its decisions to widen roads and felling of trees?
Why can’t the BBMP dissuade people from using private transport by imposing higher parking fee?