Sankey Road widening work put off by a day

Protests organised near the residence of Malleswaram legislator Ashwathnarayana on Sunday yielded some result as the officials put off the work for a day and had discussions with the agitating residents.

The officials were found persuading them to give up their stand against road widening as they claimed it was “necessary” for the City. “The discussions were fruitful. People have readily agreed for the widening of the road. But there are certain issues which need to be resolved,” said a BBMP engineer requesting anonymity.

The road widening project to build a signal-free corridor from Cauvery Junction to Yeshwantpur has been divided into three phases and the people are up in arms against the first two phases. The first phase stretches from Bhashyam Circle to Malleswaram 18th Cross and the second  from Malleswaram 18th Cross to Maramma Temple Road.

There is strong resistance to the first phase of the road widening project as three houses, a portion of the Stella Maris School premises and a number of trees will go. Palike sources said Damodar, a local contractor who has undertaken the work on the War Memorial at the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park, has bagged the contract of widening the road in the first phase of the project.

The cost of the project has escalated to Rs Eight crore from Rs 6.5 crore.  The residents of Mallesw­aram and Sankey Road said they would not give up their fight to protect their area.