No takers for road-widening project

No takers for road-widening project
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: The much-hyped roadwidening project drawn up by the BBMP in 2005 to decongest main arterial roads is finally seeing light of day.
The BBMP has started spadework for the project — breaking down of compound walls of public and private buildings, translocation of trees and shifting of utilities — on Race Course Road and Bellary Road.
Though work on Hosur Road started last year, clarifications sought by property-losers halted the project. Also, 44,464 sqmt of land — required for widening of Hosur Road — belonging to the Armed Forces is pending approval. First it was 22 roads, then it was brought down to 12, and now, the BBMP is hopeful that it will at least widen 10 roads. Of these, work has begun on only two roads since last week.
The BBMP floated the Transferable Development Rights (TDR) scheme to acquire private properties, but it had very few takers as there was no market for TDR certificates.
Roadblocks for TDR
While the road-widening project will involve taking portions of 226 properties on 10 roads, only three owners have accepted the TDR certificates on Race Course Road!
“While three owners have received the certificates, including Taj West End, five owners have raised objections and have sought clarifications. The BBMP has started earthwork wherever government land is available on Race Course Road and Bellary Road,’’ said BBMP chief engineer Krishna Reddy. The BBMP will widen the existing 30-m Bellary Road to 45 m and the 19-m Race Course Road to 30 m. These six-lane roads are expected to be ready by March 2008. “If propertyowners don’t agree for TDR certificates, we will forcibly acquire the land and compensate them according to market rates,’’ said BBMP officials.
The hitch
“For over two years, we have been going road-to-road, identifying the specifics required and trying to convince people that the land required is for the public good. We have explained the concept of TDR, but they are just not willing,’’ said engineers associated with the project.
PROGRESS REPORT
Work on Bellary Road and Race Course Road begin Topographical survey completed for 30 roads Road alignment for 12 roads has been approved and DPRs for six roads completed