Property owners on Bannerghatta Road feel that road widening works in the area will be effective only if the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) work together.
This observation was made during a meeting between property owners and BBMP on Saturday. The BBMP has proposed to widen the 7.5 km stretch between Jedi Mara and Chicken Farm on NICE Road to 45 metres. The width of the existing road is between 22 and 28 metres. Around 405 private properties, including 11 temples, are proposed to be acquired through Transferable Development Rights (TDR). Yogesh D from Neighbourhood Trust said the BBMP along with Namma Metro should initiate the project and added that the road be widened from Hosur Road junction. The public meet generated mixed response on the road widening project from the public. Some residents demanded improvement of the junction while others said the junction should be widened according to the Namma Metro works. Rajshekhar, a representative of Save Bangalore Committee, said road widening is just a temporary measure. “Instead, the stretch should be made signal-free with proper facilities for pedestrians,” he said. Meanwhile, those set to lose their properties because of the road widening works demanded monetary compensation on par with the market rate.
Bangalore Minister Ramalinga Reddy promised to take a fair decision and added that the road should have been widened 10 years ago.