BENGALURU: Chickpet, the city’s oldest commercial area, is likely to face demolition as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is planning to raze buildings that have violated norms.
Commercial establishments in Chickpet are spread across BVK Iyengar Road, Avenue Road, Akkipet, Balepet, Cottonpet and surrounding areas.
Early on Friday, a fire broke out in a godown of electronic goods in Chickpet, killing one man. Speaking to Express, Manjunath Prasad, BBMP Commissioner, said, “We want to know the cause of the fire. If we find any irregularity in construction of the building, or that it lacks required permissions, we can demolish the structure as per provisions of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (KMC) Act,” he said.
Sources in BBMP said that at least 90 per cent of buildings constructed in the area have violated the Town Planning Act. “In a 10X20 site, four-storey buildings have been constructed. If a fire, like the one on Friday, breaks out, it will spread easily to neighbouring buildings,” a BBMP source said. “With narrow lanes, buildings should not have more than two floors. Some of these buildings have even encroached upon roads,” said A L Shivakumar, former BBMP councillor of Chickpet ward.