<p>Bengaluru: Amid opposition from the residents of Indiranagar, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Thursday began work on the construction of a basketball stadium at the BBMP ground in the area.</p>.<p>Locals claimed that the BBMP held a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, during which officials blocked their entry into the premises.</p>.<p>"There were many officials and police present at the ceremony. While they were allowed to take part, we were stopped from entering. Why were we blocked from going inside? If it is not a public function, why is it being held on public land?” questioned Ashok Sarath, a member of I Change Indiranagar, a federation of various residents' welfare associations in the area.</p>.<p>I Change Indiranagar had raised several concerns about the project and petitioned the BBMP to halt it.</p>.<p>Among the issues flagged by the federation was the fear of losing access to the playground.</p>.<p>In a letter to the BBMP, residents expressed concerns that the project would turn a public playground into a private stadium, restricting access to many in the locality. Parking problems, congestion in residential areas, and increased pollution were among the other concerns raised.</p>.BBMP extends cleanliness drive by a month .<p>The association also claimed that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) proposed covering the stadium with a roof and constructing a parking facility. “We have been coming to this playground since we were children,” said Naveen, a resident of Indiranagar, expressing his concern over losing access to the open space.</p>.<p><strong>'Residents misunderstood'</strong></p>.<p>However, Snehal R, BBMP Zonal Commissioner (East), told DH that the BBMP was only trying to improve facilities at the ground and that residents had misunderstood the proposal.</p>.<p>"There is already a basketball court in the stadium. All we are trying to do is provide better facilities like changing rooms for players and a roof. Not everyone can afford to practice in a good stadium, so we are trying to create one for the public,” she said.</p>.<p>Snehal added that any access-related issues would be addressed by the BBMP, and that public access to the ground would remain unchanged.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Amid opposition from the residents of Indiranagar, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Thursday began work on the construction of a basketball stadium at the BBMP ground in the area.</p>.<p>Locals claimed that the BBMP held a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, during which officials blocked their entry into the premises.</p>.<p>"There were many officials and police present at the ceremony. While they were allowed to take part, we were stopped from entering. Why were we blocked from going inside? If it is not a public function, why is it being held on public land?” questioned Ashok Sarath, a member of I Change Indiranagar, a federation of various residents' welfare associations in the area.</p>.<p>I Change Indiranagar had raised several concerns about the project and petitioned the BBMP to halt it.</p>.<p>Among the issues flagged by the federation was the fear of losing access to the playground.</p>.<p>In a letter to the BBMP, residents expressed concerns that the project would turn a public playground into a private stadium, restricting access to many in the locality. Parking problems, congestion in residential areas, and increased pollution were among the other concerns raised.</p>.BBMP extends cleanliness drive by a month .<p>The association also claimed that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) proposed covering the stadium with a roof and constructing a parking facility. “We have been coming to this playground since we were children,” said Naveen, a resident of Indiranagar, expressing his concern over losing access to the open space.</p>.<p><strong>'Residents misunderstood'</strong></p>.<p>However, Snehal R, BBMP Zonal Commissioner (East), told DH that the BBMP was only trying to improve facilities at the ground and that residents had misunderstood the proposal.</p>.<p>"There is already a basketball court in the stadium. All we are trying to do is provide better facilities like changing rooms for players and a roof. Not everyone can afford to practice in a good stadium, so we are trying to create one for the public,” she said.</p>.<p>Snehal added that any access-related issues would be addressed by the BBMP, and that public access to the ground would remain unchanged.</p>