The Times of India 27.12.2010
BBMP defers underground parking plan
BANGALORE: Here's some good news. BBMP has deferred its plan to construct the underground parking complex at the Indira Gandhi musical fountain park near Raj Bhavan. Commissioner Siddaiah said, 'the project will be taken up only if the government approves it.'
"We have no intention of taking up a project that has already invited so much public wrath. We'll go ahead only after consulting the government," he told TOI. Urban development minister Suresh Kumar had also condemned the idea of underground parking within a park, saying that it would set a precedent for similar projects in other public parks.
Asked if the tenders already floated would be recalled, Siddaiah said: "They can be recalled if necessary. But that shouldn't be a problem for now as we can go ahead with the project only if the land is handed over." The tenders, he pointed out, were floated even before he had taken charge as commissioner. "Neither did I want the military memorial nor this parking lot. I was just executing the projects already planned."
According to BBMP sources, the tenders were floated exactly a year ago — as records indicate — on December 2, 2009. There isn't much clarity on how they were floated before obtaining permission from the public works department that owns the park land and the horticulture department that maintains it. It wasn't clear why the project was suddenly being taken up. All this came to public notice only after Siddaiah's inspection to the spot on Thursday.
Over the weekend, TOI had reported that the CM's office saw no dire need for parking space. City police commissioner Shankar Bidari too had said, "Even in my wildest dreams, I haven't asked for a parking lot."
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, chairman of National Military Memorial, had said that the memorial needed parking space but they had planned a temporary arrangement in the planetarium area. "It's the BBMP's decision to take up this project, considering the parking interests of offices in surrounding areas," he had said.
"We have no intention of taking up a project that has already invited so much public wrath. We'll go ahead only after consulting the government," he told TOI. Urban development minister Suresh Kumar had also condemned the idea of underground parking within a park, saying that it would set a precedent for similar projects in other public parks.
Asked if the tenders already floated would be recalled, Siddaiah said: "They can be recalled if necessary. But that shouldn't be a problem for now as we can go ahead with the project only if the land is handed over." The tenders, he pointed out, were floated even before he had taken charge as commissioner. "Neither did I want the military memorial nor this parking lot. I was just executing the projects already planned."
According to BBMP sources, the tenders were floated exactly a year ago — as records indicate — on December 2, 2009. There isn't much clarity on how they were floated before obtaining permission from the public works department that owns the park land and the horticulture department that maintains it. It wasn't clear why the project was suddenly being taken up. All this came to public notice only after Siddaiah's inspection to the spot on Thursday.
Over the weekend, TOI had reported that the CM's office saw no dire need for parking space. City police commissioner Shankar Bidari too had said, "Even in my wildest dreams, I haven't asked for a parking lot."
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, chairman of National Military Memorial, had said that the memorial needed parking space but they had planned a temporary arrangement in the planetarium area. "It's the BBMP's decision to take up this project, considering the parking interests of offices in surrounding areas," he had said.
