The Hindu 25.09.2014
Master Plan takes its first steps
A portion of the CMC building demolished
The ambitious Master Plan for project, for improving the civic amenities, has finally taken off after over eight years of its proposal with heavy earthmovers demolishing a major portion of City Municipal Corporation building at M.G. road here on Tuesday.
Amid police security, the building demolition work began. It attracted hundreds of onlookers to witness the drive. Over the years, the number of vehicles and commercial complexes have increased significantly, owing to which, the city was facing enormous parking problem.
“We have, this time taken a strong decision of implementing the project at any cost, and there won’t be any going back on it,” said Mayor Sajjadepeer Mushrif.
Asserting that over 95 per cent of the citizens who would be losing their shops during the demolition are ready to offer land, he said that only a few people had some objections, which he felt would be addressed.
Mr. Mushrif who was monitoring the demolition drive, told The Hindu that some 16 roads have been taken up for widening under the project. In the first phase, the road between Basaveshwara Circle and Shivaji Circle, would be taken up. “We are beginning to first start demolishing all government buildings on this stretch, soon after that, the private buildings would also be bulldozed to make a 100 feet road,” he said.
Mr. Mushrif said that the Corporation has no dearth of funds as required money for the project has been reserved ‘Nagarothana’ scheme for developing the city. The government, under the scheme had granted Rs. 100 crore, of which, over Rs. 40 crore has been reserved for Master Plan project.
