Traders, activists hold protest against 'unscientific' works

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Traders in Basavanagudi along with a few activist forums held a protest on Tuesday, by closing all the shops, alleging inconvenience due to “unscientific” works undertaken by the civic authorities on the Gandhi Bazar area here.

According to the protesting traders, the recently taken up projects by Smart City, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the Urban Land Transport (DULT) have been affecting traders and businessmen in the area.

They also alleged that they had written a letter to the respective MLAs of Chickpet and Basavanagudi constituencies, MP of Bengaluru South and other officials before sharing their woes with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai complaining about the ongoing unplanned and unscientific works in the area. However, they said that their pleas were not taken into consideration by the authorities.

Holding a press conference on Tuesday, the Traders Association along with the activists from Heritage Basavanagudi Resident Welfare Forum proposed that asphalting the main road will be more beneficial rather than white-topping the road which will cause water logging during the rains. The activists also expressed disappointment at the planned destruction of around 84 trees in order to make way for the white-topping works.

"Centuries-old trees have been unscientificall chopped by the civic authorities due to the pipe laying works on Gandhi Bazar Main Road. We have filed a complaint with the Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest, Ecology and Environment department, Chief Commissioner of BBMP and Chief Conservator of Forest," the association said.

Speaking to News Trail, M Venkatesh, said that the multi-level parking complex constructed on the main road should include a fruit, vegetable and flower market or a separate vending zone should be created for them without causing trouble to the residents, traders and building owners.

The traffic diversion and an obstruction to pedestrians have resulted in few customers walking into shops and hotels, a trader said. Eeateries and shops on various roads including the DVG Road, Puttanna Road, Bugle Rock Road, Housing Board Society remained closed in support of the protest.