Indiranagar says no to open street, threatens protest

BENGALURU: Government says it's being planned to showcase Brand Bengaluru but residents say city not equipped to be showcased
Indiranagar's residents have threatened to oppose the Open Street event being planned by the government in January on Indiranagar's 100ft road. A federation of resident welfare associations in the locality has said that Bengaluru and Indiranagar are not equipped to be showcased. The latter, they hold, is an example of crumbling civic infrastructure.

The government is planning to transform the upmarket Indiranagar 100ft road, which is dotted with pubs, eateries and retail outlets, into a traffic-free marketplace from 10am to 10pm on January 15. This is being done under the Brand Bengaluru campaign to promote tourism in the city .

On Wednesday , Shantinagar MLA Haris, who is leading the initiative, met representatives from `I Change Indiranagar', which comprises eight resident welfare associations (RWAs) to hear their concerns on the event. Apparently , Haris tried to justify the choice of the venue on the grounds that showcasing the locality would generate funds to address civic problems. However, soon after the meeting, I Change Indiranagar shot off a letter to Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge “as a formal protest against the idea of Open Street in Indiranagar“ signed by all the eight RWAs. “We strongly believe the con cept of `Open Street' is a very bad idea for Bengaluru... It is just that the city is not equipped to be showcased and Indiranagar is a standing example of what lack of civic amenities can do to an otherwise sane neighbourhood,“ the letter stated.“We are surprised that your department is eager to showcase the heritage of Indiranagar with the pubs on the 100ft road that are only a recent menace to the local residents.“ Residents warned of street protests if the government went ahead with the idea. “We are also very keen to stop all plans, expenditure and effort in this project right at the start. We would hate to take to the streets and protest and picket.“

Residents drew Kharge's attention to the more pressing issues that need the government's attention such as “crumbling underground sewage systems, collapsed solid waste management, ill-equipped police station, pathetic roads and pavements, commercial establishments running without trade licences, noise pollution“ and so on.

Haris said the concerns residents raised were genuine. “It was an openhouse discussion. They aired their grievances ranging from roads, footpaths, sound pollution, drinking nuisance and so on. I've promised that I'd do what I can to address their concerns. On the Open Street, I explained how we've planned it and they seemed okay with it. I'll meet them again after a week,“ he said.