Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Wednesday demolished the compound wall and a portion of the approach ramp to the Mantri Square mall which had become a bottleneck for commuters.
Commuters travelling on Sampige Road can now heave a sigh of relief. Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Wednesday demolished the compound wall and a portion of the approach ramp to the Mantri Square mall which had become a bottleneck for commuters.
The decision for the demolition drive was taken at the BBMP council meeting held on Tuesday. At 7.30 am on Wednesday, BBMP’s men and machines began razing the compound wall. Eight JCBs, 4 compressor machines, one cutting machine, 50 workers, Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force, police personnel and 40 BBMP gang men participated in the operation. The demolition went on till 1.30 pm.
Even as the operation was going on, Mantri Developers requested the BBMP not to demolish the ramp. They submitted an affidavit to the BBMP stating that the demolition of a portion of it would affect the entire structure of the building and electric and communication cables. They sought one month to make arrangements for relocating the services.
While sparing the 108-metre long ramp, the squad demolished the compound walls of LIC (56.6 metres), Sampige theatre (45 metres), Mantri Greens apartment (210 metres) and KC General Hospital (50 metres).
BBMP engineer-in-chief BT Ramesh said the BBMP had given partial occupancy certificate to the developer. One of the terms agreed upon then was that the developer should provide four metres of land in front and rear.
Though the BBMP had reminded the developers about this, they did not respond leaving the BBMP with no choice but to demolish a portion of the ranch and compound walls for road-widening work. Even though the road will be widened to 60 feet, trees will not be cut.
A BBMP officer said the developers sought time till June-end to raze the ramp. “They said they will demolish the ramp only after getting permission from the fire department. If they don’t demolish the ramp by month-end, we will raze the ramp,” he said.
Mantri Developers vice-president (liaison) Kiran Kumar VG, who convened a press meet on Wednesday, termed the demolition as unjustified and shocking as they had not received any formal notice regarding this from the BBMP.
“Mantri Square was constructed with full sanction from the government and civic authorities. It did not violate any construction norm. The demolition is unwarranted,” Kumar said.
“Mantri had agreed to provide four metres for road widening. We wrote a letter to the fire and emergency services seeking their approval for clearing the driveway to the mall . But without prior notice, the BBMP demolished the compound wall,” he said.
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