BANGALORE: The BBMP has decided to discuss ECC Road widening issue with the residents of Sunflower Villas, Whitefield.

On Saturday, a mob had descended on the area, pulled down compound
walls of two villas and also dug up pits in front of them. Villa
residents complained to Mahadevapuara police who intervened and stopped
work. The residents alleged that the mob was mobilized from neighbouring
Pattandur Agrahara village and vested interests were behind the act.

On Monday morning, BBMP joint commissioner (Mahadevapura zone) SN
Gangadharaiah visited the spot and spoke to villa residents and
villagers. He told TOI that the residents have agreed to discuss what
would be the best option for them. He said he has convened a meeting
with the residents on Friday.

“The engineer involved in the
project told me that the residents had earlier consented for widening.
They demanded for land acquisition process instead of TDR which we
offered. I told them that compensation through land acquisition would
not fetch them even 50% of prevailing market rates and in the TDR
process, their gains would be equivalent to market prices,” said
Gangadharaiah.

The major works department at the BBMP head
office is widening the ECC Road on either side by 80 feet and for a
stretch of 200 metres. However, the Ecumenical Christian Centre
(ECC) which is on the other side of the road had moved the court and
obtained injunction order against the widening. This has resulted in the
BBMP taking up widening only on one side of the road.

The villa
residents also clarified that they are not against development of the
area, but then the ECC Road had to be widened from end to end and not
just 200 metres as had been proposed to facilitate some builders for the
latter’s upcoming projects.

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