The residents of Modi Garden Layout and the Parachute Regiment Training Centre (PRTC), R.T. Nagar, have amicably resolved the issue over the approach road and a settlement was reached before the Karnataka High Court on Thursday.
The residents of Modi Garden Layout shall be allowed ingress and egress on Sawar Line Road from Modi Garden Layout to Main Gate of PRTC on Deve Gowda Road. Entry of civilians from Gates 2 and 3 into the explosive training area or any other area has been restricted. The Army has been allowed to put up gates at certain points to prevent public entry into these areas.
While accepting this solution, the High Court clarified that commuters on Kaval Byrasandra Main Road can access Modi Garden Layout through an alternative road formed by the defence authorities. The defence will have the option of maintaining this alternative road formed or hand it over to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike for maintenance.
The settlement was reached after the residents of the area complained that the defence authorities had closed certain approach roads despite earlier orders passed by the High Court following a public interest litigation.
When it started
The issue cropped up in 2003 when defence authorities closed Sawar Line Road, which was being used by the public for decades. The High Court then allowed the public to use the road as an interim measure in the same year. In 2010, when the defence authorities tried to close Sawar Line Road again, the High Court confirmed its 2003 interim order while giving liberty to the defence authorities to provide an alternative road. The issue reached the court again last year owing to differences between the residents and defence authorities over use of the road.
In view of Thursday's settlement, the court has recalled all its orders passed earlier.
