Traders resist Metro work

Traders resist Metro work
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: The BMRC on Wednesday commenced road-widening work for the Metro Rail project on CMH Road and cleared pavements. However, some members of the CMH Road Traders and Establishments’ Association staged a protest and were rounded up by the police and released after two hours. Work will resume on Thursday.
A group of 30 members, led by association president Imtiaz Ahmed, protested against the BMRC carrying out work on road-widening, terming it illegal. “If the pavement is dismantled, where should pedestrians walk? Moreover, the BMRC needs a 74-ft-wide road. Now, only a 45-ft-wide road is available and it has to acquire private properties to meet its requirement. The BMRC can still shift alignment to the Old Madras Road,’’ said Ahmed. After an inconclusive meeting with BMRC managing director V Madhu in the evening, Ahmed said a fresh case will be filed to bring a stay on road-widening.
Work was stopped after the protest. According to Madhu, work has to be carried out in full swing on CMH Road by April, as it is being done on MG Road, before which other subsidiary works have to be completed. “Road-widening is not illegal as claimed by the association members as permission has been obtained from the BBMP,’’ Madhu explained.
The court has granted a stay on acquisition of private properties but not on road widening, Madhu added.
Two platoons of City Armed Reserve (CAR) were deployed to prevent any untoward incident.