Residents, tech park, cops deadlocked over road use

The stand-off between residents, Manyata Tech Park and the traffic police entered the second day over the blocking of a road inside the tech park.

Residents of an upscale enclave on the tech park premises blocked a thoroughfare, leaving the police struggling to manage traffic on the busy outer ring road on Tuesday.

The residents claimed that the area is still not a public layout since the developer was yet to hand it over to the BDA. They also said it was not Embassy Business Park, but the residents who pooled in money to maintain the roads.

K Jayaraman, president of Manyata Residents Welfare Association said, "There is huge traffic every evening. Infants and senior citizens are affected by the pollution. Techies used to take shortcuts to reach the back gate, hence we put up a bollards on each road connecting the main road. But since traffic and pollution continue on the main road, we blocked it to send a strong message to tech companies to make alternative arrangements. Why should we suffer?" he asked.

Kannada actor Shivarajkumar, who stays in the Manyata Residency, took part in the silent protest. "We have lost our peace of mind staying in this layout. More and more new buildings are coming up in the area but infrastructure has been totally neglected. Embassy Group, which maintains the tech park, had given a representation to the BDA three years ago stating that it will construct a flyover connecting Nagawara and Veerannapalya junction but no work has taken place. The 100 Feet Road connecting Jakkur and Ballari Road was started but work has stopped. Residents had given many representations to BDA, BBMP and the companies but residents' problems have not been addressed."

Shivarajkumar said the tech park has two other exits which they have closed. The tech park wants to use the lone road in the residential layout for their vehicles to exit. "This is a huge nuisance for residents. We are unable to enter our own houses or even get out in the evenings. The traffic pile-up is so heavy that many a time, residents are forced to park their cars outside and walk a few kilometres to reach their houses. I have also faced this situation," he said.

The company spokesperson of Embassy Office Parks said: "Manyata Business Park maintains all the connecting roads inside the campus for the benefit of corporates as well as the residential colony. We understand the pressure of traffic across the city. We continue to work with the authorities to improve road infrastructure and avoid any inconvenience."

"Manyata Tech Park was formed in 2001 and Manyata Residency was formed in 2003. The road is a public road and residents have no right to block it, it is illegal. The residents should have realised while buying property that there will be dense traffic with the expansion of the tech park," said an official from the layout developer.

Residents on Tuesday forcibly shut the back gate and held a protest, resulting in piling up of vehicles for more than two hours in the outer ring road.

The traffic police are still trying to figure out whether it is a public road or private road. Sarah Fathima, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) said, "We have called a meeting with companies and residents on Friday to discuss the problem. Officials are gathering information about the ownership of the road. Changing the companies' shift timings will also be discussed to reduce traffic.''