“I'm forced to avoid Sampige Road and use the parallel road to reach my home in Malleswaram 8th Main. I risk being penalised occasionally by the traffic police. But that is better than enduring Sampige Road,” said N. Narasimhan, who has been living in the area for more than three decades.
‘Can't step out'
S. Prakash, a resident of Anjaneya Temple Street adjoining Seshadripuram Road that connects with the Sampige Road, was equally vehement. “On weekends and holidays we can't even venture out of our home. Parking of vehicles on our street by others makes it difficult for us to take out our vehicles. ”
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The two were amongst the numerous Malleswaram residents who took part in a dharna called ‘Save Malleswaram' held near the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's West Division office on Friday against the problems they face after the mall, Mantri Square, opened in this once-sought-after residential area.
Eminent supporters
Notable names who participated in the protest included environmentalist A.N. Yellappa Reddy, writer U.R. Ananthamurthy, freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy and veteran advocate Hemalata Mahishi.
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The programme was organised under the aegis of Save Bangalore Committee and the Jaagrutha Naagarikara Sanghatane's Malleswaram unit.
Residents were very vocal about how their quality of life had deteriorated following the change in land use from residential area to “residential/commercial area”.
“It's become difficult for me to cross Malleswaram 8th Main Road,” said 93-year-old H.R. Bhaskar, who has lived on Malleswaram 10th Main all his life.
Canopy casualty
Srinivasa Murthy, an MES College professor, said: “I'm amazed as to how such a vast area has been given to [Mantri Developers] to build a mall and apartment complex. We have lost the canopy of the trees on Sampige Road, which, among others, served birds too,” Prof. Murthy said. “The day is not far off when houses on Malleswaram 6th Main and 4th Main, where stalwarts such as C.V. Raman and writer Sriranga lived, would be brought down in the name of road-widening.”
Playground acquisition
The residents expressed their anguish over the proposed move to acquire the Sirur playground for an underground parking lot for the mall visitors.
“We cannot allow further construction of a commercial complex and a residential complex behind Mantri Square,” said Gnanamurthy of Save Bangalore Committee.
‘No development'
Demanding Mantri Square's demolition, Dr. Ananthamurthy said malls were not a sign of development.
The State Government should be providing good education, health and basic amenities for the people. “Our city will be considered beautiful only when the common man can walk and cycle freely,” he added.
BBMP Chief Engineer B.T. Ramesh, who received the protesters' memorandum, said Mantri Developers started work on laying a 60-foot road behind the Mantri Square. “With the new road, half the traffic on the Sampige Road will be diverted and the present problem will be solved,” he said and added that the residents' demands would be placed before the BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah.
‘Not responsible'
Meanwhile, Mantri Developers shrugged off responsibility over the Sampige Road congestion. In a statement, the company said there was ample parking at the mall. The construction of the road behind Mantri Square was delayed because the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation was working in the area.
The land on which the mall stands was wholly owned by Mantri Developers, it said, and no laws had been violated.