Minister says halt, BBMP continues

Minister says halt, BBMP continues
CHANDRASHEKAR G.
DC | BENGALURU


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CORPORATION SAYS NO INTIMATION FROM GOVERNMENT, CARRIES ON ROAD WORK BBMP officials say they have no reason to give up plans to widen roads over 700 km as the civic body has not received any intimation from the government directing it to do otherwise

Transport minister R. Ashok's statement that road widening has been called off in the city has left people confused and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) facing a plethora of protests every time it tries to acquire property for the project, making what is already a daunting task, even tougher.
BBMP officials say they have no reason to give up plans to widen roads over 700 km as the civic body has not received any intimation from the government directing it to do otherwise, pointing out that it began road widening only after the government approved its Detailed Project Report (DPR).

Tenders were called on January 13 and about 17 major contractors including RN Shetty, SPML and IVRCL bid for them, it says.

In all, about 200 km of roads in the core of the city and 500 km in the newly added areas are being widened. Making things more difficult for BBMP is the fact that the Transferable Development Rights (TDR) being offered in lieu of acquisition of properties for the project has not caught the fancy of the people, who are not tempted by it into giving up their land for road widening.

BBMP officers, however, stress that considering the fast pace of development in the city and its increasing number of vehicles, widening of roads is essential.

"It was after a survey that roads were identified for widening. The intention is to reduce traffic density on some roads and streamline it on others. Some of the roads chosen for widening are part of signal-free corridors," they explain.

Avenue and Cottonpet roads, which connect the heart of the city with south Bengaluru, are among the critical roads identified for widening.

"We are trying to persuade the people to part with their properties to allow us to get on with our job. The TDR is a success in Hyderabad and Mumbai.
People here too must accept it for the sake of the city's development," the officers added.