In a twist to the basement car park issue at the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park, urban development minister Suresh Kumar has voiced his displeasure over the BBMP’s project. He told Sunday Times of India that basement car parking had certainly no place inside a park. “I have never heard of such a ‘novel’ project being implemented anywhere. In what sense can a park be a better place to park vehicles? BBMP must look for a different place to build the parking lot, if parking is really an issue on Chowdaiah Road.”
    
According to Suresh Kumar, this move would set a bad precedent for other parks. “Even if it is an underground facility, the nature of the park will change. It is the only space where natural rainwater harvesting takes place. This purpose will be defeated if parking space is provided. I have no clue as to who is behind such an idea in the BBMP,” he frowned. “The government should advise BBMP to withdraw this proposal and find better space somewhere else.”

However, the proposal for basement parking facility for 250 cars is yet to get clearance from the horticulture department, which manages the park. “Once we give permission to BBMP to build a parking lot here, there are possibilities of this project being replicated in other parks too.” Besides, this will be a violation of the Karnataka Park, Playfields, Open Spaces Act 1984. Already, 50% of the area has been given over to the National Military War Memorial Trust and the park has shrunk. We are examining these issues,” said N Jayaram, director of the horticulture department.
    
For the report in the ToI, click here.

It is good to hear Mr Suresh Kumar speak up. He is amongst the few neta's in the state with an unblemished record in public service. But, it is said 'a man is known by the company he keeps', and going by that, Mr Suresh Kumar will perhaps need to watch every step he takes, lest he also gets dragged, even if unknowingly, into the black hole of corruption created by his fellow travellers.   

Talking to a person, who admitted to being part of the establishment, I was told that there is a group within BBMP, backed by the local contractor mafia, which goes on 'generating' projects on a regular basis, whether required or not. And, with the Commissioners changing so very often, this group is able to push the projects through, even before an incumbent Commissioner has come to grips with the technicalities of the job. And once that happens, the group is perhaps powerful enough to effect his transfer. Apparently, such goings on can't happen without the backing of the politicos supposedly in charge of the city. And, that's perhaps where a Suresh Kumar now needs to step in, take charge, and say 'saaku', lest as stated already, he also begins to lose the trust of the people.

• favorite 74 Likes
• | login or register to post comments

CMD of Feedback Consulting, V Ravichandar, pointed out that the metro ought to make for less congestion on city roads, so planners should not now plan for expanding parking spaces; besides, the Vidhana Soudha and surrounding areas already have sufficient parking space. Ravichandar said that the BBMP ought to ensure that all high rise buildings have sufficient parking space. That would greatly reduce the need to plan additional parking lots. Underground parking is also prone to flooding. Ravichander expressed concern that parks and green spaces were being so rampantly taken over for parking lots in the city, at a time when the government ought to be encouraging public transport and dissuading people from using their own cars.

For the full report in the DNA, click here

Well said, Sir!
 

• favorite 70 Likes
• | login or register to post comments

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.

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.

For the full report in the ToI, click here

But, why only defer? Please scrap it, totally. Also, the Commissioner would perhaps do well to conduct an internal enquiry to find out who was responsible for floating the tender, even before necessary permissions had been obtained from the concerned departments, and nail the culprits, lest they cause to land him with eggs on his face, again in future.
 

• favorite 70 Likes
• | login or register to post comments