The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Part of Freedom Park allotted for protests

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Friday, Oct 31, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Part of Freedom Park allotted for protests

Staff Reporter

Unhappy with slow progress of work, Minister asks BBMP to complete the project within 45 days

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

AT A SNAIL’S PACE: A view of the Freedom Park’s open air theatre in Bangalore.

Bangalore: Finally, the city will soon have a designated place for the protesters and demonstrators. Five acres of land at Freedom Park coming up at old Central Jail premises on Seshadri Road will be earmarked for holding protests and demonstration.

Transport Minister R. Ashok, who reviewed the progress of works at proposed Freedom Park, told presspersons on Thursday that five acres of land would be given to the city police for the purpose.

He said that it was not possible to allot 15 acres of land as demanded by the city police but said that demand for more land by the police would be discussed with the Chief Minister.

A designated place for holding protests and demonstrations had been the demand from the police to ensure that agitators were prevented from using the public road which would disrupt road traffic.

Meanwhile, expressing displeasure with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) over the delay in completion of the first stage of the park, Mr. Ashok directed the BBMP Commissioner to complete the work within 45 days. He questioned the escalation of cost of construction which increased to over Rs. 10 crore from the original Rs. 8 crore.

Narrow underpass

While reviewing the progress of widening of Bellary Road along with Mr. Ashok, Katta Subramanya Naidu, Minister for Information Technology, Biotechnology, Excise and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board, expressed displeasure over the width of the underpass built for light motor vehicles at Anandnagar junction.

He said the underpass was too narrow — even for light motor vehicles — and that such projects should be thought over more carefully.

The underpass, only three-metre wide, would result in traffic jam besides making the drivers uncomfortable while taking deviation through the underpass.

Responding to the Minister’s remarks, BBMP Commissioner said that the width of such underpasses would be increased to 4.5 metres in future.

Mr. Naidu and Mr. Ashok inspected the area near Cantonment Railway Station where a pedestrian subway would be built by the BBMP. Mr. Naidu said the proposed subway would be completed in six months.

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