How not to be mauled by malls

How not to be mauled by malls

THE TASK FORCE HAS CALLED FOR SEVERAL DOs TO MAKE BIG BUILDINGS CITIZEN-FRIENDLY

Senthalir S. Bangalore

Multi-storey structures might henceforth not be allowed to put up their gates abutting the arterial roads, if the string of proposed dos and don'ts by the Agenda for Bengaluru Infrastructure and Development (ABIDe) are cleared.
ABIDe has recommended that malls and large residential, official and commercial buildings erect gates well inside the approach roadways of their premises to avoid piling up of the traffic on the arterial roads.
It said that apartments and malls should provide enough pedestrian walkways, footpaths, over-bridges and underpasses for public use.
This recommendation is part of the action plan put forward by the ABIDe on road management.
ABIDe has also recommended adequate parking provisions within the premises for visitors and regular users.
In fact, it says that this space should be an integral part of the building plan and should be made mandatory for new plans to be approved.
Danish Farook, director of Silverline Realty, said that most large-scale developers have been following these measures for the past three to four years.
He added that the government should also provide higher floor space index (FSI) for apartments or gated communities to help them provide ample parking and recreation areas. FSI is the ratio of built up floor area to the total land area.
"We need to spend extra for the maintenance of these spaces. Hence, the government should compensate the developer somewhere," he said.
He added that the developer should also be provided with an option to increase the height of buildings if more open space is required. This provision would then benefit end users.
ABIDe has suggested that high traffic sources and large employers must promote the use of public transport systems and maintain traffic footprint indexing measures. They should also promote schemes for this cause, it said, adding that the civic agencies should encourage such schemes.