BANGALORE: The works on the long overdue six-lane road from Sirsi flyover to Gali Anjeneya Temple on Mysore Road has technically started long back and was supposed to complete by August last year. But, the project got delayed for various reasons, ranging from issues relating to land acquisition, resistance from the communities to utility shifting by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM). The deadline for the Rs 24 crore worth project, which is part of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Master Plan 2015, has been again pushed to September 2012 and as a result the commuters are in the receiving end. As of now, people coming from Goripalya, Guddadahalli and Satellite bus stand are the worst affected. Saleem, a commuter said, “I don’t understand why the BBMP did not plan this properly in its initial stages. They had already cut more than 80 trees and now they are putting the blame on ‘land acquisition’ for the delay. The road widening works have been going on at a snail’s pace and I dread using this road on a daily basis.” The initial reason for the delay was failure on the part of the BWSSB and BESCOM to shift their utilities running under the road. But the civic bodies were apparently helpless as the they couldn’t shift the utilities, water and the electricity connection without the completion of the land acquisition process by the BBMP. The ambitious project connecting Sirsi Circle to Kengeri is hoping to cover a 13-kilometre stretch. Though the first phase will cover only 3.7-kilometres, BBMP has decided to drop the final 0.7 kilometres. Chief Engineer Dodaiah said, “Because of the ongoing Namma Metro and BDA works, we decided to cover only three kilometres.” On being asked whether the acquisition process has been finally sorted out, he said, “The Muslim burial grounds have been let out and now its up to the BWSSB to do the utility shifting. In case of the Christian burial grounds, the Protestants have let out the land. But, the Catholics are hesitant as they unfortunately don’t have an alternate land to move the grave and they need to make arrangements for the same.” The private property owners who were forced to part away with some portions of their land will be compensated by the BBMP in return for the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR). Though there were talks of a compromise formula which was worked out between the BBMP and the two communities back in December, the Palike still doesn’t seem to have an alternate land to provide for the Christian burial grounds. In all this mayhem, the six-lane road remains a distant dream for thousands of commuters using the road and the Christian community representatives who are left helpless.
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