Bangalore:
Fear of road widening is back to haunt the residents of Padarayananapura Main Road. On Monday, they took out a rally and shopkeepers downed the shutters. "We do not want widening. No question of Transferable Development Rights or compensation," the protesters said.
Residents have enough reason to believe that the BBMP is covertly planning to widen this 40ft or 25ft road to 80ft or 100ft.
"The BBMP had visited the area on the 8th of this month for an inspection and held a closed door meeting, allowing very few residents to participate. When we expressed dissent, they told us to shut up," said C Suvarna Srinivas, daughter of C Chowdappa who has rented out several houses here.
On Monday, protesters came out in large numbers. All shops were shut to send the message: widening will not be accepted or allowed. "We will block the road and organise protests if the BBMP continues to push for widening," they said.
This contradicted the claim by the standing committee on major works which, after the December 8 meeting, said most residents had agreed on the project. Residents said 241 houses and at least 500 shops will be lost if widening of the 2.6-km stretch is undertaken.
"The neighbourhood is home to the poorest of the poor. If our dwellings are demolished to make way for the road, we will be on the streets," said sexagenarian Mumtaj Begum, who provides for her late son's six children and his wife with the rent her building earns.
Most residents have similar tales to narrate. "We have been living in a tiny house inside Chowdappa Compound for decades. The rent is just Rs300 and the advance Rs3,000. If asked to vacate, where else will we find a roof for such low rent," asked Bhagyamma B, a resident.
Low rents go hand in hand with the lack of civic amenities. Locals complain that the area lacks proper drains, garbage collection systems, etc. The traffic density has gone up after widening of Mysore Road and Metro work on Magadi Road and West of Chord Road began. Delay in completing the bridge being built in Shyammanna Garden has made it worse, they say.
"Neighbouring affluent areas are to blame for the influx of vehicles. We never asked for widening. The road is being widened only to favour residents of Vijayanagar and surrounding extensions," said Fayazullah Khan, a pensioner.
Fingers point at new projects and the impending demands on the road. "High rises coming up in the adjoining Telecom Layout are not finding takers as this is the one of the roads leading to it. The BBMP plans to raze our houses to facilitate access to the apartments," said a resident.
"A road from inside Binny Mill that was planned to the layout has not been completed. There are many alternatives which are not being explored before embarking on this undemocratic, unscientific project," said Syed Maulah, a businessman. People suggest that parking be prohibited on the main road, and garbage clearance be done regularly and systematically during the early hours.
"The garbage trucks come once in two or three days around 9 am or 10 am. They occupy a lot of road space for long hours. This contributes to congestion," said Krishna Venkatesh whose men's salon is under threat too.
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