Road widening: Varthur residents demand compensation

The residents of Varthur are worried over losing their houses, shops and other properties to the Varthur road widening work that may start soon.

On December 22, DH carried a report saying a 1.4 km stretch from Varthur village to Varthur Kodi would be widened soon. To carry out the project, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has to acquire land by paying necessary compensation to the landowners and will demolish some of the buildings across the road.

Alarmed by this report, the residents and shop owners conducted a meeting on Monday to decide further action against this move.

Although the residents favour road widening, they do not want the project at the cost of their livelihood. “We badly want the expansion of the road. But we have to lose our buildings and shops, which earns us our bread and butter. Most of us have been living in the area for more than decades,” said one of the residents.

Samil Gopal Reddy, a resident of Varthur, said if the civic body pays everyone a decent compensation amount, as in the market, the residents are ready to pledge their land. “The residents have encroached upon the government land over the past 15 years and have built houses and shops. I don’t know how the government can now claim that land for the project," he said.

"Many poor people reside here, and they will come to roads if they are not paid proper compensation,” he said.

He added that the residents are not ready to accept the BBMP’s Transferable Development Rights that has no market value.

On the occasion, the residents formed a ‘Varthur main road and building owners' association’ to fight for the rights of residents and landowners. “We will stage protests if the Palike does not give us decent compensation,” said Reddy, who is also a member of the committee.