'Street' fight in Bangalore
With lakhs of the city's long-term residents, traders and others likely to be affected, there is much opposition to Bangalore's road-widening plans. Protests against tree-felling have acquired a much deeper dimension. Kathyayini Chamaraj reports.
“Let them give us a packet of Tik-20 to commit suicide along with the notice for acquiring our shops,” says one of the traders on a road that, like many others, is slated for widening to de-congest Bangalore. The road-widening scheme of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) proposed for more than 90 arterial roads, has brought first-hand experience of the pangs of development-induced displacement right into the heart of the city.
With the livelihoods of lakhs of the city’s traders, shopkeepers, their employees and suppliers, vendors, pedestrians, etc. at stake, there has been much opposition to the municipality’s plans to widen the roads. And what started off as a protest against the felling of trees for road-widening, has now taken on a deeper dimension.
Livelihoods and heritage
Sridhar, President of the Avenue Road Commercial Association, says that 5000 traders and 1-2 lakh families will be directly affected. The road is a hub for wholesale trade for the entire state in 80-90 commodities, ranging from second hand books to stationery to jewellery. The popular claim among locals is that one can get everything other than an aeroplane here. Throughout the road, BBMP officials have marked in red paint that 30 to 40 feet of each shop would go. “They have put red marks with our blood,” says Sridhar.
The widening of Avenue Road will also mean the invaluable loss of Bangalore’s cultural heritage. Legend has it that it was from Avenue Road that Kempegowda let loose bullocks yoked to a plough in four directions to set the limits to the city. The road also contains Tipu Sultan’s dargah and many historic temples built by Krishnadevaraya. These memories will be greatly dulled by the loss of such cultural treasure.
The woes of the 1500-odd traders of C M H Road in the eastern neighbourhood of Indiranagar, who will lose their shops as a result of road redevelopment work to accommodate the city’s Metro (which is under construction) are no less painful. An alternative route for the Metro suggested by the Association is not being considered on the ground that rider-ship would reduce by 15 per cent, and also affect a graveyard located on the alternate route. But traders argue that ridership could drop that much even if the shops in this busy area are removed. Moreover, says Syed Imtiaz Ahmed, President of CMH Road Shops and Establishments Association, ”… they are more bothered about the dead than the living.”
A particular target of ire is Bellary Road, the now-widened 30-km stretch from the city to the new Bangalore International Airport.
Ahmed says that 15,000 to 20,000 people will be displaced. There are 32 banks on this road, indicating the volume of business here. The traders also accuse the municipality of stretching the legal bounds of their operations. For instance, although the Court permitted only pruning of trees on this road, overnight 100 trees were chopped down. Locals protesting the Metro have also received an almost threatening letter from the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) asking them not to obstruct the work or harm the lives of BMRCL employees on duty. Say the locals, “Why aren’t they bothered about our lives?”
Another 100-year-old stretch slated to face the demolition hammer is the 1.5 km Bazaar Street, in the Chamarajpet area. Dr. Satish Bhonsle, President of the Chamarajpet Traders’ Association says that most shops are 30 feet by 15 feet here, and nearly all the businesses would have to leave after the acquisition since the space left in their buildings would not be enough to conduct business in. If 20 feet are taken away, the 8-10 feet remaining cannot be supported on the back pillars alone. Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) could only be used to re-build if some land remains, but even then, reconstruction of their shops would be expensive.
And relocating their business is not an option, say the traders. “A particular business thrives in a particular place because of the patronage of surrounding neighbourhood. It cannot be simply displaced to another place.”
Road widening and development projects in general affect slum-dwellers most, says Isaac Arul Selva of Slum Jagatthu. Over 300 families of the Havadiga community that lived near the Cantonment Railway Station were forced to shift when an underpass was built there. They had earned a living so far by working on construction sites in Cantonment, but they lost this livelihood after being displaced to Tumkur Road as it was too far away for them to commute to work.
This story is being repeated all over Bangalore. Some monetary compensation is given to the landowners when their land is acquired, but this still leaves out many others. “What about those who don’t own land and lose their livelihood, such as cobblers on the pavements and workers in the shops?” questions Selva. Ironically, he says, ”… the BBMP has received money from the World Bank under the Karnataka Municipal Reforms Project. They have to spend the money. But instead of municipal reforms, we are having road widening,” he says.
A particular target of ire is Bellary Road, along whose length one must travel 30 kilometres to reach the new Bangalore International Airport. With only half a dozen traffic junctions along the stretch that permit pedestrian crossings, the road has become a nightmare for those living around it. And with vehicles traveling at high speeds on its three lanes on each side, the death toll is steadily mounting; someone is killed every second or third day. The obvious class difference between those traveling on the road, and those who are its victims is all too evident. Even the BBMP’s Chief Engineer is asking the locals to “swolpa adjust maadikondu road cross maadi” (please ‘adjust’ a little and cross the road), an extreme case of the city’s famed ‘adjustment’ propensity.
Legal challenges
Around the city, residents as well as activists say that authorities do not involve them in decision-making. Many officials, they say, think of them as a ‘headache’, and that any discussions they ask for are met with the response that the decisions have “already been taken”. Although public hearings on proposed road works are mandated by the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961 (KTCPA) before a scheme is implemented, this is never followed meaningfully, they say.
With little recourse left, they have turned to the law, a theme that has become all-too-common throughout India, as displaced communities use the one avenue where they think their voices will be heard a little better. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Environment Support Group (ESG) and CIVIC, a city-based urban governance group (Full disclosure: The author is a trustee at CIVIC) against widening of 91 roads alleges that the scheme is illegal, as it violates the KTCPA.
A slew of accusations is made in the PIL. Here’s a sample:
- The intention to widen roads was not publicised at the time of display of the Draft Comprehensive Development Plan by the authorities in 2005. It was only in the final Revised Master Plan that the new widths of the roads were marked on the maps denying the public the right to debate and file objections, if any, to the proposal (as required per Sec 10, 14A and Chapter V of the Act).
- Before any proposal made in the Master Plan is implemented, a Scheme has to be devised as per Section 26 of Chapter 5 of the KTCPA. Further, only the Bangalore Development Authority is authorized under Section 29 to implement any Schemes in the Master Plan, and not BBMP.
- Acquiring land for road-widening has to be through the Land Acquisition Act. Even if State government lands are involved, such as the land that is part of the Chief Justice’s house on Palace Road, these need to be first transferred to BBMP through an instrument of law. While widening Kasturba Road, 15 feet of Cubbon Park will have to be acquired. But the Parks Act prevents any land of Cubbon park or Lalbagh to be changed to road.
There are other problems too. The displacement within the City is also being done outside the terms of the new Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy that has been passed by the Union Cabinet. Under this new Resettlement & Rehabilitation Policy, no project involving displacement of families beyond defined thresholds can be undertaken without a detailed Social Impact Assessment and Clearance, and the concerned Government shall have to specify the ameliorative measures for addressing the said impact. The SIA report is supposed to be examined by an independent multi-disciplinary expert group, which will also include social science and rehabilitation experts.
Also, only TDRs are being offered to land-losers. Officials are giving the impression that if 70 per cent of affected land-owners accept TDRs, the rest will have to forcibly fall in line. But this is not at all true as TDR is a voluntary scheme and persons not opting for it have to be compensated as per the Land Acquisition Act.
Urban officials are saying that the new Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy does not apply to the projects.
Urban officials are saying that this policy does not apply to them, but have not said why. Their fear may be that the policy, if applied, would require many things that have now been overlooked. The R&R policy prescribes a strong grievance redressal mechanism, which includes committees at the project level, as well as an Ombudsman. The R&R Committees are to have representatives from the affected families including women, voluntary organisations, local elected representatives, etc. Provision has also been made for post-implementation social audits of the rehabilitation and resettlement schemes and plans. But the question of R&R comes up only if traders accept their displacement, which they are not prepared to do.
With so many issues outstanding, there is considerable ground to be covered. Prem Chandavarkar, an architect based in the city, says, “Middle class interests are pushing the vision of a ‘modern’, ‘efficient’ city, within an exclusionary paradigm.” He calls for a more inclusive approach.
Ironically, sections of the same middle class, this time from public interest and development groups, may be taking up the debate. As a result, this is no longer just a livelihoods protection effort by traders and displaced slum-dwellers. Instead, it is a battle for the soul of governance, and in Bangalore, the heart of the new urban India. However this turns out, there will be important lessons for many other cities in the country.
Filed under
Cite this article
Kathyayini Chamaraj (2008) ‘'Street' fight in Bangalore’, India Together, 30 August 2008. https://indiatogether.org/roadwide-government/
14 reader responses
Add a response
Kiran Varanasi · 1 September 2008
The protection of cultural heritage etc.. should have occured to the people before they blindly increased the population. Do you know that the Indian population has quadrupled in the 60 years of independence ? What do we expect !!? Urbanization of the country is inevitable, and essential for several crucial issues (a) economic development (b) spread of education (c) population control : urban people beget fewer children (d) environmental protection : we cannot have humans destroying forests around. What we need to take care of is proper planning in the process of urbanization. New urban settlements have to be meticulously planned and executed. Living quarters, roads, electricity, sanitation, urban greenery etc have to be properly worked out. A city can only survive a limited number of people. This will be achieved only through meticulous planning. Instead of criticizing without posing any alternative, the citizenry should take the job into their hands and provide meaningful alternatives. This debate has to happen over the internet, and people can even discuss their plans over google earth. That would be the true meaning of democracy. Blind protests for selfish reasons is not.
M.Chandra Shekar · 1 September 2008
The road widening is very essential for the smooth flow of traffic. These and many other arterial roads, which the Govt propose to widen has not been planned it. Old Bangalore roads were planned for the population of 50,000 families only. Even the boundaries were clearly earmarked. No body had expected or foresaw this phenomenal growth, which gave rise to many complicated civic issues. Does anybody know the details regarding Avenue road & OTC road. They were called chickka pete and Dodda pete. The traders in any of the these areas may be affected, only for the time being. Only,Very few will loose their livelihood and all the others will make their living and will not die of starvation. As stated in the article, the legal issues, KTCP Act, envisages proper and planned city. None of these statutes ever properly enforced and implemented in any part of this country, why alone take KTCP. Weather it is BBMP or BDA, it is the duty of the civic authorities to widen the roads for better traffic movement. Every project has its own advantages and disadvantages. Road widening may, for a short, transition period, affect the business community, but not for long. None of the employees are affected. They will find other and better jobs. As stated, the old roads are heritage sites. Visit Avenue road, there is not even an old building to prove it. Most of the buildings are without sanctioned building plans, deviating beyond tolerable limits and many have already made alternate arrangements. The Government must be very tough and widen the roads.
Abhishek · 7 September 2008
Dear Ms. Kiran Varanasi, With all due respect, how many people get 24-hr electricity, let alone "internet" and "google earth" ? Your suggestions of discussions through hi-tech media, though seemingly well-intentioned, are mockingly preposterous.
Dev · 25 September 2008
This site is like a teenager, has to rebel against anything and everything. NGO's doesn't mean that you have to be rebellious and say 'no' to everything the government does, that is the work of the opposition party, I would suggest using this platform to unite people to work towards a cause which doesn't necessarily incite deep emotions. There are still half a billion Indians who live below the poverty line, I am sure articles about improving them and their standard of living and educating them would help your organization be a positive force in our society, no point publicizing and commenting dramatically on incidents which only polarizes people, and that is truly not the role an NGO should be playing.
Shabs · 4 November 2008
I am one of the person that will be loosing my property if road widening occurs, I do agree that we have to widen roads but not at the cost of livelyhood and a living place of other people. I bet you people would not have commented if you had to loose your property, The few pennys which government pays is not even enough to support the family my for 1 year. If a proper rehabilitation occurs with good compensation we really do not have any objection for the development. Where are the human rights, when just for sake of fast travel to house you destory other livelyhood.
Kota J Vinay · 9 December 2008
i deeply appreciate the views of the author. and being personally affected by the widening process, i know first hand, the implications and devastative effects on the economy as well as public directly and indirectly involved in the due process of widening. hence i strongly oppose and condemn the proposal of widening of roads in general and avenue road in particular.
kishore · 9 December 2008
widening of the road is widening of business, more person will get diffrent kind of job as we get more better,business art of work, ficility due to widen of road lost for few, benifit of lott which can be seen in feture course of days even we are loosing the place due to widening of road even govt should be clear at there ploicy if they want do, the should be open policy comitted date if not cancle this widening if their policy is not clear we cannot take dection, because of blind dates of work, blind kind of feature. even tentant should get compsastion of the road widening project of BBMP even we are also from our livehood, contrubut to the project of wideninig not only landlorad
shekhar · 9 December 2008
the road widening is a action taken by the govt and bbmp not to help people but to kill people,i do agree that bbmp wants people to have free flow of traffic but on the cost life of the people is an offence by the bbmp, becouse the people who lose there shops know how difficult to by the property or to establish the bussines,and not only difficult but it is a life and death for people who lose there shops and property,this type of road widening make people suffer a lot because they lose ther property but also their livelywood
Lokesh · 11 December 2008
IOk i agree to the words of road widening and improvement of city but who s responsible for the loss of the money and place of the shop keepers as they have invested their best amount and life time investment for the shop will the goverment arrange the shops in city limits for the loosers will they give the money what they have invested
siva · 1 May 2009
road widening for whom ? for vehicles. How many vehicles are there in bangalore ? Stop the growth of vehicles.
Raghu · 6 September 2009
Sir, No real or actual development. The Govt.and the BBMP are hoodwinking the World Bank and the Union Govt. of India. These people are just collecting funds from all available sources only to spoil Bangalore. Bangalore was better of without flyovers and underpasses. Govt. BBMP, Police and BMTC are the main culprits for goofing up in what ever they do. They are spending crores of rupees without knowing what they are doing and what are the implications. If anyone comes to Wilson Gardens they would know what kind of traffic management our cops are doing or what BMTC is doing to jam the roads. Why the Govt. has allowed SRS and KPN Transports to open their Bus station in Wilson Gardens. Why the Govt. is allowing Parking on Siddiah Road in Wilson Gardens with huge buses,trucks and cranes which makes roads smaller, The Govt. is widening the BTS Road for the sake of this going to be defunct Bus station. For this thousands are going to be homeless and business establishments will have to close as they are going to widen 20 feet on either side. Do we call this development or upgrading the infrastructure. Even in developed countries this type of mad acts are not allowed. Here the BJP Govt with its inexperienced ministers are goofing up everything since it can`t reign officials or officials are listening to ministers. The main job of BJP Govt. is to purchase buses like Volvo or Marcopolo paying hundred of crores or keep widening roads and allow all sorts of heavy vehicles or allow all interstate buses into K.H.Double Road and Jayanagar. Sooner the BJP Govt. Falls it is good for the City. BJP Govt. will be a total disaster and a failure and will never again come to power as they have rendered thousands homeless in the name of road widening and Metro. Even famous Lalbaugh and M.G.Road they have not left untouched.
P. Arunachalam · 28 May 2010
In the interest of lakhs of people, the Avenue Road widening is a must Govt. should not budge the vested interest traders. They don't want widening since they pay a meager rent to the owners and enjoy huge profits. First of all 5000 traders is an inflated figure. In Avenue Road, hardly a few hundred shops are there. In any road widening, people who stay there will oppose but in the interest of lakhs of people government should go ahead with road widening.
Faiz · 9 June 2010
Road widening is not the solution. Authorities do not want to think. There are numerous alternatives. Using alternate roads. They just want to fill their pockets with money so they are troubling citizens. They in no way want development of people they want development of their pockets. Road widening will increase the traffic. Many people travel less by personal vehicles due to traffic problem once road are wide they will also add their vehicles. As citizens of Bangalore we need to oppose this as it disturbs lakhs of people, many don't have any alternative place to stay. The compensation is so low. they will pay "guidance value +30%" in most areas guidance value is way less than half the market value.u cannot get a proper house for that money. Think of people who have put entire life earning into the properties and these people come and demolish it. What about their feeling and memories about that house. It's not a building, it's a home. People who support road widening please think of losing your own house where you were born where your parents sacrificed all their lives to build your career, education. They are breaking this dream. Please join hands and stop this mess. People who are not affected should also join hands in fighting this corruption. Because today you might not be suffering but they will trouble you also. Make them realize they are for us and from us not rulers of this state.
Samivelu · 1 April 2013
Road Widening will not work in Bangalore.If Bangalore has 1000 feet Road also will not suffice.Our drivers are savagesThey do not have lane discipline.They will have 6to 8 lanes in 100 feet Road.Autos and buses are major culprits in beaking lane discipline and all the laws. You have to shift all the existing bus stations to outskirts and ban trucks and tempos from entering the city all the 24 hours.You have to decongest Residency Road,Richmond Road,K.H.Double Road,Hosur Road,K.G.Road and N.R.Road. We must have road sense than road speed.The way Bangalore Traffic is handled and managed traffic will come to a total standstill in the near future.No amount of policing or traffic enforcement will work and only nature will manage everything as our men have from all the concerned depts. have failed in their respective duties.