Protest against move to rebuild Indiranagar BDA complex

Indiranagar residents under the banner 'i Change Indiranagar', with support from United Bengaluru, protested against the re-development of the BDA complex.

The BDA complex is located at 1st Stage, Hoysala Nagar (ward 80), Indiranagar.

More than 100 citizens gathered on Saturday evening to object to the demolition of the existing structure and replace it with a swanky shopping complex, which, they believe, would only add more chaos in the locality.

A press release from 'i Change Indiranagar' dubbed the proposal "myopic" as it plans to replace the existing structure with one 11 times its size. Though it is a public land, the agencies never held a public consultation, they alleged.

"If they are indeed demolishing the complex, we want a tree park here and nothing else," said Swarna Venkataraman, a resident.

Since the BDA says it is forced to replace the existing structure as the cost of maintaining the building is more than the revenue, Aruna Newton, resident and president of Citizens for Civic Action, asked why cannot the building be maintained.

"They can spend some money for (maintenance) like the way we maintain our homes. The new BDA complex is not going to change our lives for the better," she said.

Ashok Sarath, a local resident, said they want the tree park because it would be for everyone's use rather than a building that would service just a few.

"We only demand the BDA to implement the suggestions made in the Revised Master Plan," said Sneha Nandihal, a citizen activist from the area.

Lok Sabha MP P C Mohan, who took part in the protest, urged members of United Bengaluru to meet the BDA and BBMP officials on Monday and Tuesday. Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrashekar also participated.

Citizens also said the complex would violate National Green Tribunal rules as the land falls under the buffer zone of Binnamangala Lake.

Residentspeak

The BDA's claim that it is high maintenance and will cost is not right. They can spend some money on the building and re-develop it

— Aruna Newton, president of Citizens for Civic Action

There are times when we are imprisoned inside our homes as most vehicles come and park there. This reconstruction of the shopping complex will lead to similar chaos

— Geeta Varghese, a local resident