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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