NICE, BDA cross roads

There seems to be no end in sight to controversies surrounding the Bangalore-Mysore expressway project being developed by the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE).

Even as it recently got an interim relief from the Supreme Court that work should go on, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), is almost crossing its road. In this case, the peripheral toll road NICE plans to build to link its expressway to Mysore.

NICE and BDA are both building or proposing to build the two peripheral roads between Tumkur Road and Hosur Road. While NICE's road is a toll-road, BDA's is toll-free. The issue which is troubling NICE is that the BDA road runs almost parallel to its road and in some places is as close as 0.6 km. On top of this, NICE states that the green belt will be between the two roads. This could ultimately lead to green belt being eroded.

A spokesperson for NICE said: "We are not against BDA building a parallel road. The issue is that it runs too close to our road and this defies logic. Our plan is pretty clear. At frequent distances, we are planning to having connecting roads to the BDA road for people to exit at any point they to want switch to the toll-free road. With this facility being provided, we don't see any reason for another road to be so close to the road we are building."

In addition to this, he said that as this is a green-belt, if two roads are so close there is bound to be small wedge of green belt which will be spoilt as there is bound to be development along this wedge.

However, BDA has its own plans. Said a spokesperson for BDA: "The road we are proposing is only a part of our overall plan to decongest the city traffic. The road which is being contested by NICE is the southern part of the project. Eventually, we will start planning on the northern part for the peripheral road. When that happens, we presume people will start using our road and if they travel south do you expect people to compulsorily switch to a toll-road."

On the question of the BDA road being too close to the NICE road, he said that it was inevitable at a point but considering the entire project, this will be beneficial to citizens of Bangalore.

According to Vidyashankar, commissioner, BDA: ?The basic purpose of the road is to decongest the central business district.

It is also to ensure that heavy vehicles do not enter the core of the city while crossing to the highways.?

Giving an example, on this road will be useful, he said: ?Suppose a heavy vehicle has to go to Tumkur Road from Hosur Road, it can take the peripheral road instead of entering the central business district. Besides, we are having a series of truck terminals and warehouses by this road.?