No parking

No parking
By: Chetan R
Date: 2008-09-12

Bangalore:



A BBMP ambulance
The Garuda Mall management has not kept its promise to the BBMP.

The land on which the mall has been constructed, belonged to the civic body. The space was for the parking of the corporation's ambulances and hearse vans.

The mall management had promised to provide place in its building for these vehicles.

About 13 emergency vehicles, including hearses and ambulances and more than 100 lorries have no space to park, as their main workshop, given to Garuda, has not been reconstructed.

The drivers of these vehicles have sought the commissioner's intervention to solve the problem.

"We have submitted a memorandum in this regard," said Shivashankar, organising secretary, Bruhat Bangalore central employees' union, "We have appealed to the commissioner as we don't have proper space."

The BBMP workshop for these vans was situated in a five-acre stretch on Magrath Road. This land was leased to Garuda Mall in 2003 on condition of providing space for ambulances.

"Before us vacating, authorities assured us that a workshop would be built in the newly constructed area," said Shivashankar.

Mall authorities were to provide basement space for the workshop, then the parking one floor above and then the mall. But after the construction was complete in 2005, drivers were shocked to see that there was no workshop.

"As people don't allow hearses to park in front of their properties, it has become extremely difficult for us to find space to park," said Maregowda, president, drivers' union.

Memorandum

All BBMP workers' unions have submitted a memorandum seeking a place.

They demanded that the ACP and the commissioner intervene and help ensure that the space is given back to them.

"They have submitted a memorandum seeking place to park their vehicles. It will be taken up and proper space will be provided," said Subramanaya, commisioner.

Mall authorities deny this.

"We are acting in accordance with the law. We had not assured them that we would provide for a workshop space in the mall premises," said G M Nandish, manager, Garuda Mall.