ROAD GRAB

ROAD GRAB

How brazen can an encroachment get? Officials of a business park in Domlur have literally locked up an access road in the locality, and residents have to go through a humiliating security check before being allowed to proceed

SHASHWATHI BHANUKUMAR & DEBI PRASAD SARANGI



They cheered when executives of the business park next door promised to convert the broken, pothole-ridden access road into a world-class one. That indeed happened, but their joy was shortlived as the developers have literally taken over what is unarguably a public road.
Residents of Chellaghatta and other areas adjoining the Embassy Golf Links (EGL) Business Park (near Dell) in Domlur are so incensed at this blatant road grab that they go into ‘unparliamentary’ mode whenever the road is mentioned.
“There is never a smooth traffic flow here. The security guards of the business park block the road whenever they feel like doing so. It is a daily irritant. It’s certainly not a good idea having an IT company as a neighbour,” one resident said. “Worse, we don’t know whom to complain as nobody knows who owns the road.” In fact, verbal clashes between the residents and EGL personnel have become a daily feature.
SECURITY PARANOIA
Things started going wrong for the residents of Vaswani Apartments and other apartment complexes when the park authorities went on a security overdrive to protect the 30-plus IT tenants from a possible terror attack. The residents are quick to point to the irony of the situation. “While vehicles move unhindered on Ambedkar Veedhi, the road between the Vidhana Soudha and the High Court, here vehicles are subject to a thorough screening. How can a private company’s security guards hold traffic to ransom on a public road?” they queried. Baap ka raasta hai kya?
The security personnel check every vehicle 24/7, not sparing even local residents. “Not only that, walkers with large backpacks are also checked,” said John Paul, manager of the Vaswani Golf Vista Apartments Owners’ Association. Puttuswamy, an auto driver who plies on the road everyday, “It is a nuisance, but what can we do? Our passengers are also checked thoroughly.”
There has been a slight improvement of late, with apartment residents being waved on once once they identify themselves. “But even this is a hassle, as there would be 15 to 20 vehicles in front of you already and by the time you reach the security check point and identify yourself, time is already wasted,” said Venkatesh Prasad, a resident.
DOUBLE PARKING
One of the residents said there was a situation once when the road was blocked for over three days and they had to walk to the main road and catch auto rickshaws even though they had their own vehicles. “There is some work going on at the adjacent golf course and they are using cranes and other machinery. The problem is that the workers and machinery block traffic,” said Rajendar, a resident.
Moreover, business park cabs are parked on both sides of the road, compounding the congestion. “If anyone tries to argue with one the drivers, the other drivers join together and use abusive language,” said Paul. Most of the residents seem to have resigned themselves to the situation. “We know it is illegal to park this way on a public road but nobody listens to us,” said Amit Tiwari, a resident.
BELONGS TO BWSSB
When Bangalore Mirror contacted Rajan Vishwanathan, head of the property division, EGL, he refused to comment on the issue. On further investigation, it was learnt that the road belongs to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). “The road belongs to BWSSB and is a service lane. No one else can own the road. But the public can use it,” said Kumar, Assistant Executive Engineer of the area. “I am aware of the situation and have warned them (EGL) several times. If the nuisance continues, departmental action will be taken,” he said.