It was the DMK that had first started the practice of erecting flag poles right across foot-paths at road junctions in Chennai, in effect establishing their claim to be the rulers of the place. This was copied by Marxists in Kerala, Shiv Sena in Mumbai, and the KRV in namma Bengaluru. Meanwhile, as far back as in 97 itself, when Mr M K Stalin became the Mayor of Chennai, he decided that such gimmicks were harming the party more than doing any good, and had them all dismantled. The Indian Express cutting here shows the work being carried out under the supervision of Mr Stalin himself. As compared to that, namma KRV appears to be announcing newer and newer conquests every day, caring a damn for the pedestrians.
Muralidhar Rao
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Maharaja junction, K'Mangala
This one at the busy Maharaja junction in Koramangala came up about a month back, amidst all the construction activity currently in progress there. The junction was already a nightmare for pedestrians. The flag-pole pedestal occupying almost three-fourth the foot-path width is worsening matters considerably.
at Raheja Residency gate
same story here
What about Indiranagar?
Murali sir
thanks for the blog entry. I was thinking in the same line regarding misuse of posters etc by political parties et all.
Above is a picture taken on 9th Feb 2010 showing the congress wishing us maha shivratri, which is on Friday the 12th. It has been erected well before the day. However they will never be in a hurry to remove it. May be BBMP may have to do the job.
Icon bust politics
Here (reported in the New Indian Express) is an instance of how Dr Raj Kumar's bust was used in an attempt to encroach into BDA property at Sumanahalli junction under Kamakshipalya police station limits. The alertness of the police and BDA has thwarted it, atleast for now.
Administrative disconnect?
The city administration needs to have firm control over what goes where in this city. Even an extra stone in public commons needs to get approval. They need to show elements they are in charge of this city. They will not collude with elements if they didnt feel they had a moral obligation to be responsible for the upkeep of the city. I get the feeling at lower levels most administrative workers are mostly a hostage to their job and are emotionally disconnected from the city/wards/areas/streets they live & serve. The top guys need to give them a pep talk.
raw deal for pedestrians
@psaram42
Thanks for posting this. Yesterday, I had to squeeze past the supports for this banner apart from the earlier existing obstacles on the foot-path, and it didn't leave me with a very comfortable feeling, not knowing when it would all come down on me.
This is exactly the point I was making here. There is an urgent need to free the foot-paths from all these kinds of encroachments for the benefit of the pedestrians.
Chandru
FYI
Temple Archways ?
As per report --
The fan club approached BDA officials, requesting them to return the bust. But the officials refused
Serves them right.
at lower levels most administrative workers are mostly a hostage to their job and are emotionally disconnected
I don't think this is accurate. If this were indeed true, one wouldn't be seeing so many instances all over the city. I think they sort of tread on a middle path, which is where the problem is.
Another phenomenon is erection of archways by temples at road entrances such as the ones at Ragigudda (JP Nagar 100ft rd) & Rajarajeshwarinagar (Kanakapura rd). BBMP, or the ward offices must bring these down too, since they are on public land.
BBMP's campaign against posters on walls seems to be somewhat of a susccess - wherever they have painted pictorials, posters are not to be seen - not yet, anyway !
when is Bangalore going to act?
examples worthy of emulation from across the country - what is Bangalore waiting for?
Siddaiah Road cleared of encroachments
The BBMP on Saturday carried out a special anti-encroachment drive to clear the footpaths on Siddaiah Road and nearby areas. The drive started from the Siddaiah road and continued till Wilson Garden. Two JCBs and 10 lorries were used to demolish and clear the demolished material, said a BBMP official. For the full report in the New Indian Express, click here
Excellent news - but, what about the rest of Bangalore? Can we hope for similar action right across the city?
Piecemeal efforts insufficient
Though such efforts are being dished out every now & then, they are not enough & are usually for BBMP's own agenda.
The same BBMP was ready to pardon building violations all across the city with their sakrama scheme.
Siddiah rd has been earmarked for widening & this might explain why they targeted that road. But for this, I doubt if they wud have ever bothered.
Sidewalks still no good
Found out the new sidewalks in Sanjaynagar are no good. Even Rajagopal road pavement is so unwalkable.
We haven gone anywhere in the last 2 years. The pace of change is pathetic compared to china and even developed world where you may think there is nothing more to be done. Dissapointed with BBMP. No wonder the world still looks at us with disdain we cant get anyhting done properly.
As if stationary isnt good enough BBMP have gone a few steps backward in sanjaynagar by adding loads of vehicle chassis breaking speed bumps of different shapes and sizes on main roads at the discretion of pea brained individuals.
New foot paths
The new foot paths being laid along CMH road after Metro barricades were removed, do not conform to any norms and are unwalkable. Only wastage of resources.
K.V.Pathy
Supreme court orders removal of 496 irritant structures
In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, ANDHRA Pradesh has identified 496 unauthorised structures such as temples, churches, gurudwaras and mosques in public places in Greater Hyderabad and submitted an action plan for their removal. For more on that, click here
Illegal religious structures count
Tamil Nadu has the maximum number of 77,453 unauthorized religious structures on public land, the Supreme Court was Tuesday informed. Tamil Nadu is followed by Rajasthan with 58,253 such structures and Madhya Pradesh with 51,624 unauthorized structures. The number of such structures in Maharashtra is 17,385, Gujarat 15,000, Karnataka 2,814 and Delhi with 52 unauthorized religious structures.
The court had earlier directed the governments to frame a policy to check the mushrooming of unauthorized religious structures in public places, including streets and parks. The court also took stock of the steps taken by each of the states in pursuance of its directions.
For the full report in the New Indian Express, click here
I am not quite sure the figure given by the GoK is quite right. I expect it to be a lot more.
Whatever, hopefully, this pro-activeness on the part of the Supreme Court will check the rampant growth of such structures across the country, if not the removal of the existing ones.