Widening Varthur road unlikely to affect lake: BBMP

The contract to widen Varthur road is stalling since coaxing land owners to agree for Transferable Development Rights (TDR), instead of cash compensation, is taking time, the BBMP has said.

The delay in executing the contract, taken up a year-and-a-half ago, recently triggered a hunger strike by local activists. BBMP officials who began the work before the hunger strike said land owners are yet to give their consent for TDR on paper.

Somashekar, chief engineer, road infrastructure, said: “Land owners are demanding cash compensation. But they could use the TDR on the other properties they own or sell the TDR certificates in the market. A few land owners are yet to accept the deal, which will take some time.”

The 9.8-km road from Dommasandra Circle to Varthur Kodi in East Bengaluru varies from 8 to 12m in width. The road will be expanded to a width of 45m throughout, said a BBMP official.

Residents and lake activists raised many concerns about the damage to Varthur Lake as the road falls within the 75-meter buffer zone determined by the National Green Tribunal. But BBMP assured that the road will be expanded without any violation to the NGT
rules.

“The widening of the road will take place in the opposite side of the lake bund, towards the catchment area and not into the lake. We will not interfere with the buffer zone to violate the NGT’s order,” said Somashekar. However, he refused to offer a time frame to complete the work.