MG Road boulevard to be reborn

In an official press release, the BMRCL said: “The mock-up coach at Anil Kumble Circle will be shifted to make way for restoration of the boulevard.” He added that the coach will be on display till Friday.

The Corporation, however, did not specify who would bear the cost of restoring the walkpath with the green canopy between Anil Kumble Circle and Cauvery Emporium Junction even as there have been speculations on whether the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) should also chip in with some resources.

Speaking with Deccan Herald, BMRCL Chief Public Relations Officer B L Y Chavan said: “I don’t know those details yet, we will communicate about that on Tuesday.”

An artistic impression of the boulevard prepared by the BMRCL shows space and facilities made available for display of arts and crafts, musical performances and plays, on the restored boulevard.

The proposal is for a two-level boulevard, spread along a 400-metre corridor next to the metro pillars on the stretch.

The boulevard, once famous for its bougainvillea bushes became unrecognisable when work on Namma Metro began in 2007. The Chief Minister and the BMRCL had, however, promised the restoration once Reach-1 of Phase I of the Metro project between Baiyappanahalli to MG Road was completed. And the BMRCL, officials said, is keeping its word as it is nearing the deadline for the commercial operation on the reach –– April 4, 2011.

Although the Corporation expresses confidence in meeting the deadline, the work on the stretch does not reflect the same.