Bengaluru: The recent chaos over the demolition of buildings for their encroachment on storm water drains, had barely subsided, when another kind of violation has begun to plague the city.
This one could be a potential demolition spree, if and when the BBMP chooses to act on it.
A stroll through CMH and 100 feet road in Indirangar, and it’s easy to spot every commercial establishment with a space available below for the construction of a basement meant for parking.
Despite this, one can see that customer vehicle parking spills on to the road, blocking traffic. The reason being, the building owners have conveniently rented out the basements to other businesses, in doing so flouting the building by-laws, as stated in the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act of 1976.
“There are utility shops, radio and TV repair shops, places selling CDs, mobile stores, and eateries…all occupying the basement space.”
Even Sujatha Hospital does not have a parking space for its own ambulance. Some owners have made a staircase leading to their stores, forcing customers to park right on the main road,” said Praveen Sundaram, Secretary of Indiranagr 2nd Stage Association.
Secretary of the Defence Colony Ashok Sharath said, “There are two problems. One, more than half the shops do not have basements and the others who do, use them as godowns for storage. Two, the pubs and restaurants that have valet parking, bring the customers’ vehicles and park them in front of our homes, on the inner lanes.”
With vehicles taking up so much of parking space on the roadsides and pavement, the residents have to walk on the street through dangerous traffic. “This largely affects children and senior citizens,” the residents complain, adding that the problem has been increasing for 7 years.
Describing the situation as pathetic and one which is driving all the inhabitants crazy, locals say their complaints have fallen on deaf ears.
When Deccan Chronicle contacted Joint Commissioner Yatish Kumar, he claimed to be unaware of the problem.
Meanwhile, increasingly larger number of customers frequent the bars and restaurants, park their vehicles wherever possible, turning Indiranagar from a residential area into a giant parking lot!
Illegal shops will be cleared in a month: Chief Engineer (East) BS Prasad
Why shops on CMH and 100 feet road do not have basement parking as per the law?
- Yes, these shops have taken up the basement area, which is illegal in violation of building by-laws. They have not received any sanction in this regard.
Residents say they have been complaining but nothing has been done...
- We have taken action a few times before, by cancelling the trade licence of these illegal shops and vacating them. However, they often approach the court and get a stay order. These cases are still pending.
What remedial action can be taken now?
- We are going to act against all these establishments. We will take away their trade licence and vacate all the shops that are taking up the basement space on CMH and 100 ft road. This will be done within one month.
