The civic body’s attempt to stay clear of a ‘negative’ image ahead of the Assembly elections may spell good news for hundreds of trees slated to be felled or removed during the widening of Jayamahal Road and Ballari Road.
Two years ago, the High Court had directed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to widen the 2.5km stretch of Jayamahal Road between Mehkri Circle and the Cantonment underpass, and a 2-km stretch of Ballari Road between Mehkri Circle and BDA junction, by September 2017. But civic official are still in the process of acquiring 16 acres for this project.
Earlier this week, the Bangalore Development Authority issued a notification calling for objections to the issuing of Transferable Development Rights (TDR) certificates to members of the erstwhile Mysore royal family who own Palace Grounds. BDA officials said the 30 days have been given for submitting objections, following which a meeting will be called after two weeks. “It will take at least two months to issue the certificates assuming there are no objections,” said a BDA official.
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A stumbling block has been the opposition to cutting of trees. At stake are 112 trees on Jayamahal Road and 260 on Ballari Road.
On Monday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took stock of the long-delayed road widening project. A BBMP official said, “He told us to focus on translocation of trees instead of cutting them.”
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Sources claimed translocation of most trees is in doubt, but the CM was categorical about saving as many as possible. Moreover, officials said, while the CM and other ministers set strict deadlines for other projects in Bengaluru, there is none for this project; the inference is to ‘go slow’.
Choke points
But even if land is acquired, BBMP is yet to draw up a plan to tackle the choke points — at TV tower, Nandidurga junction on Jayamahal Road, and Cauvery junction and the narrow flyover at BDA junction on Ballari Road — that road widening will not eliminate.
“We can set up small grid flyovers at these points. These are pre-cast elements which can be assembled at the site. It should take three months to complete. The budget has a provision of ₹421 crore for 13 such flyovers,” said a BBMP official, adding that the BDA junction flyover could be expanded using the same technology.
However, detailed project reports are yet to be prepared.
The project
Ballari Road widening
Length: 2 km
From Mehkri Circle to BDA junction
Land to be acquired: 6.5 acres
Jayamahal Road widening
Length: 2.5 km
From Mehkri Circle to Cantonment bridge
Land to be acquired: 9.48 acres
Timeline
1996: Government stakes claim to 485-acre Palace Grounds
2009: BBMP attempts to acquire 15 acres for road widening
2010: Compound wall realigned, but work stops
2014: SC orders government to hand over TDR to Wadiyars
2016: HC directs government to grant necessary clearance to the BBMP to widen road
April 2017: BBMP issues notification for acquisition of nearly 65,000 sq.m.
July 2017: BDA invites objections for issuing TDR certificates to Wadiyars