Rs 1 lakh announced for Jayamahal Road underpass land loser

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Cabinet has decided to pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to a complainant in the dispute surrounding the building of an underpass on Jayamahal Road near Palace Grounds in Bengaluru. The decision was revealed by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil after a Cabinet meeting held at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Thursday. Patil pointed out that as much as 1,217.41 square metres of land had been utilized for the underpass, adding that the amount of the compensation was in line with the order of the Supreme Court (SC).

The minister added that the ordinance on the Palace Grounds issue that was announced last week and implemented on Wednesday was approved by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. The ordinance overrides an apex court decision to grant Transferable Development Rights (TDR) of some 472 acres of Palace Grounds land to the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru. The TDR is for now retained by the State government.

“Since it is not possible to return the 1,217 square metres of land utilised for the Jayamahal Road underpass, it has been decided, the Cabinet has decided to pay Rs 1 lakh compensation to the complainant on behalf of the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) under the Bangalore Palace Grounds ordinance section four and five as per the directions of the Supreme Court dated 10-12-2024,” Patil told mediapersons.’

Police sports quota hiked: The minister also disclosed the Cabinet decision to hike the sportspersons quota in the police department from two per cent to three per cent. “The State Cabinet has decided to increase the reservation matrix for sportspersons in the police department from the post of the constable to the office of the DySP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) from two per cent to three per cent,” Patil said.

Other decisions include the approval of Rs 83.72 crores for the fly-over and Kudu Road near a railway crossing between Hassan and Holenarasipura. Another Rs 44.5 crores has been approved for the construction of a bridge across the Bhima River near Kadane village of Sindagi taluk in Vijayapura district.