The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Sampige Road widening work to be taken up in 15 days

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Thursday, Mar 17, 2011
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Karnataka - Bangalore

Sampige Road widening work to be taken up in 15 days

Staff Reporter

Ramp in front of Mantri Mall to be demolished
Road next to Sampige cinema
will be widened

Bangalore: Finally, the residents of Malleswaram will get some respite. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has proposed to widen Sampige Road by four metres on either side for smooth vehicular movement. The work will be taken up within 15 days.

The members of the BBMP's Standing Committee for Major Works inspected the road on Wednesday. “After the construction of Mantri Square, the traffic on the road has increased exponentially — from 6,500 passenger car units (PCU) to 10,000 PCU per hour,” said H. Ravindra, committee chairperson.

BBMP officials said that the ramp in front of the mall would be demolished. “A few trees in front of the mall will have to be felled. No other trees would be felled on the road,” a BBMP official claimed.

To ease traffic movement from Sampige Road to Srirampura, the road next Sampige cinema would also be widened.

The 25-ft wide road was notified for widening in December 2009. “We will have to demolish the compound wall of Mantri Greens apartments to make way for widening. The other properties on the road, including LIC, Sampige Theatre and Savitha Theatre, would be acquired through TDR (Transferable Development Rights),” Mr. Ravindra said.

The committee members visited the proposed Metro Rail station behind the mall. Here, the builder has proposed to construct four floors for the Metro station and a 47-storey commercial building over it. Behind this, another building (55-storey high with three underground levels) has also been proposed to be constructed. Mr. Ravindra claimed that the BBMP had not approved the construction of the multi-storeyed building behind the Metro station.

“In 2009, Mantri Developers had agreed to build a road behind the station within a months' time. They have not yet kept their word,” Mr. Ravindra said.

The officials of Mantri Developers, however, claimed that they were waiting for the completion of the Metro station to construct the road. Unsatisfied by the explanation, the committee members directed the officials concerned to suspend the partial Occupancy Certificate issued to Mantri Square.

‘No notice'

Meanwhile, spokesperson of Mantri Developers, in a statement, said: “Mantri Developers have not got any formal notice from BBMP on any such widening of the road. We will be able to react once we see the notice or formal letter from BBMP.”

Later, the chairperson told reporters that a comprehensive traffic management plan would be prepared for Platform Road, Rajiv Gandhi Circle and Sampige Road in view of the multiple entry and exit that are created due to this project.

The study shall be conducted and plan shall be obtained from Traffic Management Consultant with due approval from the competent authority.

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