Date:25/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/25/stories/2005022517460300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

36 roads to be taken up for widening in phase I

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, FEB. 24. The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's (BMP) five-year-old road widening project will finally take off this year.

Following the Government's final notification permitting the BMP to grant ``transferable development rights'' to property-owners and leaseholders for road widening, the civic body has identified 80 roads (135 km) in the city. Of these, 36 roads will be taken up in the first phase, the BMP Commissioner, K. Jothiramalingam, told members at the BMP Council meeting on Thursday.

The BMP has now asked property owners whose land is required for widening on the identified roads to apply for grant of "transferable development rights" from the civic body. The Mayor, R. Narayanaswamy, directed the officials to stop registering khatas and sanctioning building plans for property on the identified roads.

"Transferable development rights" envisages permitting an additional floor area ratio to owners whose lands are acquired for road widening. "The BMP can acquire the lands without paying compensation and the owners have the option to either extend construction or sell the `rights' to a prospective builder," the Commissioner said.

Some of the roads to be widened: Bellary Road, Palace Road, Seshadri Road, Nrupatunga Road, Vidhana Veedhi, Mission Road, Devanga Hostel Road and Sankey Road.