Civic analysts say the proposal to buy the rights is suspect as the Palike is not specifying what price it will offer.
A day after the chairman of the BBMP standing committee on major works, H Ravindra, announced the civic body’s resolve to push the controversial Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) scheme for road widening through a new model, voices from the civil society raised opposition to the idea.
An unperturbed BBMP, however, is pushing forward its idea of widening roads through the TDR model.
Sources in the Palike told DNA that a TDR cell would be set up soon for TDR transactions.
This just means that the issue is up for debate once again.
It can be noted here that the new model involves buying TDRs from the residents and property owners, whose properties are marked to pave way for road widening, and selling the Development Right Certificates (DRCs) to builders to develop properties elsewhere in the city. This was advocated on Tuesday by Ravindra during an inspection along Magadi Road.
The civil society has a different take on the issue. VN Rajashekhar, co-convenor, Save Bangalore Committee, said that TDR was a big hoax and the BBMP was trying to cheat people with new tricks.
“If they want to acquire property, there is just one simple option: Convince people that road widening is necessary and buy the land from people at market price. If they really want to compensate people, why are they insisting on TDR and how are they going to pay for it? It is a conspiracy to make TDR acceptable. Nobody in Bangalore will ever accept TDR. People have rejected road widening; people have rejected TDR,” he said.
Vinay Srineevas of Hasiru Usiru said that urban development minister Suresh Kumar had promised that a public meeting on TDR and road widening would happen first. “In BBMP, there has not been one discussion on TDR. First that has to happen. It is illogical to look at road widening and TDR before the discussion happens. And how is Ravindra making this statement? Let them state officially at what rate they will buy. Such off-the-cuff statement made during an inspection only scares people and causes confusion. These statements should not be considered official,” he said.
N Prasad from the Citizen Support Group said that ministers and officials had assured that TDR would not be forced on people. “Now it is surprising to know that they will buy it. On one hand, they assure it will not be forced; on the other, they say they will buy TDR. These double standards will create panic. Junior level officials will start forcing it on the people if seniors like Ravindra make such statements. Also, they have not said anything about when they will buy it and at what rate. There is no clear policy on TDR,” he said.
By advocating the new model, the BBMP has given a new twist to the TDR issue stoking further debate on the matter. Following stiff opposition to road widening and TDR across the city, the BBMP had put the project on hold. But now the new model is targeting a 3.62-km stretch on Magadi Road from Toll Gate Junction to Summanahalli Junction, where 311 properties will be affected.
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