BDA grant for chairman's area amid neglected layouts

Bengaluru: In a departure from conventional practice, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has allocated a sum of Rs 55.65 crore to the Shantinagar Assembly constituency, which is represented by N A Haris, who also chairs the authority.

What’s more, these works are proposed in layouts that have long been under the custody of Bengaluru’s civic body.

Generally, the BDA is expected to use its resources for the formation of new layouts and the development of layouts under its jurisdiction. However, the BDA has proposed works in Shantinagar, a constituency situated in the heart of Bengaluru, which is in a better shape than the city’s outskirts.

When contacted by DH, Haris said such allocations had been made for other constituencies in the past. 

The projects include construction of additional classrooms in the Karnataka Public School at Domlur 1st Stage, a building for the government college in Domlur 2nd Stage, a sports stadium in Jogupalya and a football stadium on a playground in Austin Town.

Each of these four works is estimated to cost about Rs 11 crore to Rs 20 crore. These allocations are likely to cause duplication, as the municipal corporation also sets aside a budget for such works.

Clifton D’Rozario, a lawyer and resident of Austin Town, said the BDA’s allocation lacks transparency. “We are all for development but are against the proposal to convert the football ground into a stadium,” he said. “...We sincerely request that the BDA abandon this project. Development cannot mean erasing 100 years of history.” He added that there is already a football stadium one km away.

Notably, the allocations — approved for 2024–25 — come at a time when the BDA is overwhelmed with complaints about the lack of basic infrastructure in layouts such as Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout, Sir M. Visvesvaraya Layout and Arkavathi Layout.

The BDA is also drawing flak for not offering adequate compensation to landowners for the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project and delaying compensation to land-losers of Shivaram Karanth Layout.

Highlights - Projects in pipeline Additional classrooms in Karnataka Public School at Domlur 1st Stage Building for government college in Domlur 2nd Stage Sports stadium in Jogupalya Football stadium on a popular playground in Austin Town Each work is estimated to cost Rs 11 cr- Rs 20 cr