A major traditional market area in south Bengaluru, Gandhi Bazar Main Road has faced stiff resistance on foot. A long pending proposal since 2015, has now been taken up for implementation.
On Monday, passers-by and traders protested against walking on the road. They have alleged that there is not enough information on the proposals in the public domain and sought public consultation on the project.
The Basavanagudi Traders Association and several resident welfare associations of the area have alleged that work on the road had begun without public consultation, and were apprehensive about losing business, causing inconvenience and loss of heritage character of the area.
“We are convinced that the proposal being implemented will affect our businesses, it is not possible, and will also lead to more traffic congestion in the area. We will not allow this project to be implemented,” said M Venkatesh, president, Basavanagudi Traders Association.
RK Guruprasad, president of the Heritage Basavanagudi Residents Welfare Forum, who was also part of the protest on Monday, said the Church Street walk had to be withdrawn during the weekend following the protest and that they were at a loss to understand how they planned. were making. Permanent walkway of major road like Gandhi Bazar Main Road.
Local MLA Uday Garudchar said that the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) which was conducting the walking project had to conduct extensive public consultations in the area and could implement the project only if they could convince residents and traders. “I have sided with the people of my constituency. I will allow the project to be implemented only when they are convinced about it. A public consultation with a complete plan for the sector is the need of the hour,” he said.
DULT commissioner V. Manjula said they were open to public consultation on the project. However, he added that the project dates back to 2015 when a study was conducted as part of the Karnataka-Germany collaboration, which has followed several stakeholder consultations and the project has been part of the Comprehensive Mobility Plan for the City, 2020. Which has been approved by the state government. “In 2018, the civic body awarded tenders for white-topping of a stretch of road. We are trying to implement pedestrians as part of the same project,” she said.
‘Will walk only 350 meters’
DULT Commissioner V. Manjula said that the entire stretch of 650 meters from Tagore circle to Ramakrishna Ashram circle will be decorated with white paint, while the middle section of 350 meters from Phool Bazar to Vyasaraja Math circle will have to be walked on.
In pedestrian access, the road will be shortened by 7 meters, which will be provided for the movement of emergency vehicles. “In the rest of the area, we will set up kiosks for the shops to ensure proper front so that their business is not affected,” Ms Manjula said. “We will also hold a design competition for architects to strive for innovative design by preserving all the heritage values of the region,” he added.
However, residents and businessmen of the area have objected to the scheme, arguing that it is not suited for senior citizens. DULT has promised to deploy buggies on the pedestrian section. “The shops will be given a window to receive their supplies during the night and there are houses in the stretch, whose residents will be greatly inconvenienced through no fault of theirs,” Mr. Guruprasad said.
He said that there are also concerns that the buses which will be diverted on parallel roads, which are narrow, will not solve the problem of traffic jam in the area.
Basavanagudi Traders Association and RWA have created a counter design proposal designed by the architects they are involved in. “We need to improve the area, but without disturbing the traffic or heritage of the area. We proposed a provision of demarcating zones for drinking water, toilets, parking facilities and hawkers without diluting the right of way of road This will not inconvenience anyone,” said association president M Venkatesh.