Vittal Mallya Road: who owns it anyway?

Vittal Mallya Road: who owns it anyway?
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: “The United Breweries group intends to make Grant Road the finest in all respects. No effort will be spared in beautifying the area to reflect the group’s commitment. We seek your kind indulgence in approving the proposal to rename Grant Road as Vittal Mallya Road, and accept our proposal for beautification and maintenance of this road for the future.’’
This is what the letter of commitment from the UB Group dated July 11, 1988 — written by liquor baron Vijay Mallya to then chief minister Ramakrishna Hegde — says. This was the assurance given to the government for seeking renaming of Grant Road as Vittal Mallya Road. A resolution was passed in the BCC council to that effect in October 1988.
Almost 21 years later, a ‘lack of commitment’ has brought the road’s name into focus again. The road has become deplorable, especially after the UB City project came up. BBMP has now reminded the company of its two-decade-old commitment and directed it to undertake maintenance work on the stretch at the earliest. Failing that, the Palike will write to
the government to reconsider the road’s name. On Tuesday evening, BBMP additional commissioner (East) S Puttaswamy issued a notice to the UB Group.
“One of the reasons cited by the group for lack of maintenance is the dispute over the road width. But that’s just a fractional portion. We don’t know what stops them from simple maintenance. The standards are very clearly specified. It just needs an estimate and not a detailed project report,” Puttaswamy explained.
BBMP has also written to the Lokayukta, who is conducting an inquiry on encroachment of the road. No one from the UB Group was available for comment.
LETTER OF COMMITMENT
UB Group will beautify the road Electrification will also be undertaken by them Adequate facilities for pedestrians as well as motorists Recurring expenses of maintaining the road will be met by UB Group