With the major part of first phase of the master plan road-widening project over, the City Municipal Corporation is now focussing on the second phase under which the stretch between M.G. Road and Siddeshwara temple will be demolished from Saturday.
The Master Plan project for widening of roads began about a month ago. As part of the project, buildings between Basaveshwara circle and Shivaji circle were demolished.
“With over 95 per cent of demolition completed in the first phase, we are now planning to begin demolition of shops located on the either side of M.G. Road and Siddeshwara temple,” said Harsha Shetty, Deputy Municipal Commissioner and special officer for the implementation of the Master Plan.
Speaking to The Hindu , he said that the demolition for the second phase would be easier for the Corporation, since over 95 per cent of the properties belong to the Corporation and were earlier leased out to private persons.
He said that since the property belonged to the Corporation, no notice would be served nor compensation given to the shop owner before demolition.
“We are only giving them information to vacate the shops, nothing else,” Mr. Shetty said.
With regard to the construction of road on the demolished area between Basaveshwara Circle road and Shivaji Circle, he said that the district administration may call short-term tender for taking up the work.
Mr. Shetty said the tender process and allotment of work is expected to be completed within a month. “We are making every effort to ensure that road work is executed within a month as the job of demolition is largely over,” he said.
He said that the district administration has also planned to take up road widening at Naubagh area.
“This is a critical road, which, if widened, would greatly resolve traffic congestion. However, taking up demolition is challenging since the road has a slum which has been occupied for decades,” he said.
Mr. Shetty however hoped that with the help of the Mayor and the city MLA, they would be able convince the people to relocate to other places by rehabilitating them.
