The Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) on Tuesday registered a case against real estate major DLF, a former Commissioner of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), and a former administrator of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for permitting widening of a road to legalise the construction allegedly put up beyond the permitted level by the real estate company.
The First Information Report (FIR) registered based on a complaint by one Nagesh, states that a former Commissioner of the BDA, the then Administrator of the BBMP and other officials allegedly approved the widening of the Begur-Hulimavu road in violation of the Revised Master Plan 2015.
According to the complaint, the BDA and the BBMP gave the go-ahead to widen the road from 18 metres to 24 metres to facilitate DLF, which is constructing residential apartments in Begur in south Bangalore.
The company had reportedly obtained permission to construct only four floors, but went on to construct 19 floors illegally, increasing the floor area ratio. Later, the company is said to have pulled strings and pressured both the BDA and the BBMP to widen the road to “legalise the unauthorised construction of additional floors”.
In his complaint, Mr. Nagesh alleged that the developer had also encroached upon government property, including kharaab land, a major storm-water drain, a temple tank and civic amenity sites.
Sources in the BBMP said that an MLA wrote to the then BBMP Commissioner and Chief Engineer stating that the road had to be widened “in the interest of the residents”. Following this, the road widening was approved. However, the widening work is yet to begin.
