BBMP and BMRCL lock horns regarding rent
- Metro boulevard, parking, shops have come on BBMP land.
- BBMP takes objection to commercial activities by BMRCL on BBMP land.
- Footpaths, service roads are encroached upon to make parking lot.
- BMRCL refuses allegations and says it had informed the government in the beginning .
FollowBBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad has written to BMRCL authorities taking objection to conducting commercial activities at Namma Metro stations without taking appropriate permission from BBMP.
The Metro stations have been constructed on BBMP land and al arterial roads, main roads, sub-arterial roads, boulevards are all property of BBMP. All these have been handed over to BMRCL to provide public transport system for the benefit of people. However BMRCL has constructed shops at all stations and rented them out to hotels, juice centres, milk booths, sports and other commercial activities.
It has created parking lots at BBMP boulevards and other vacant spots and collecting fees. To construct parking lot the BMRCL has encroached upon service roads and pedestrian lanes. It has not taken official permission from BBMP for any of this activities. The shopping construction plans are not submitted to BBMP and none of the shops run at BMRCL metro stations have taken licence from BBMP. All such irregularities have angered the Palike members.
If BMRCL had intended to conduct commercial activities at its metro stations, it should have signed a MoU with BBMP and made it a partner. Without any such agreement BMRCL is showing a dictatorial attitude alleged BBMP members. They submitted written complaint to BBMP Commissioner in this regard and the Commissioner in turn has written to BMRCL.
However, the BMRCL says the land for construction of Metro stations have been acquired from BBMP and during the initial stage itself BMRCL had informed the government that it would take up commercial activities at the stations. However, BMRCL stated that with regard to encroachment of pedestrian lanes, service lanes and parking lot action would be initiated to set right the irregularities. BMRCL MD Pradeep Singh Kharola said the letter from BBMP has not come to his notice yet and once he receives it he would reply appropriately and refused to make any further comments in this regard, reported Kannada Prabha.
