SKR Market basement to be opened for car parking on Sept. 1

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, AUG. 18. The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) will open the basement of Sri Krishna Rajendra (SKR) Market for car parking on September 1.

Though the market was constructed three years ago, the basement could not be used for car parking because of the seepage from the storm water drain in the area.

The basement and the drain are being cleaned under the ``Shramadaan'' programme launched by the BMP, and the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) as part of their plan to develop areas in Old City.

A decision to allow car parking in the basement was taken on Saturday after the BMP Commissioner, Mr. Ashok M.Dalwai, the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Mr. Ajai Kumar Singh, and other officials inspected the ongoing work at the market.

An official from the BMP told The Hindu on Saturday that the basement had become a breeding spot for mosquitoes because of water logging. The problem had been set right now, and nearly 500 cars could be parked in the basement. Traffic congestion at Kalasipalyam and near the market would ease after the basement was opened for car parking, he added.

The BMP has earmarked Rs. 2 crores for the development of areas in Old City this year. The ``Shramadaan'' programme is an important component of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the BMP and the State Government.

Over 1,000 workers, including the BMP staff, gangmen and pourakarmikas, and 40 trucks, four excavators and six tippers have been engaged to clean the market.

As many as 12 teams, each headed by an executive engineer, have been formed to supervise the cleaning work. Encroachments in and around the market have been cleared. Areas such as Gundopanth Street, Avenue Road, Sethurao Road, A.S.Char Street, Fruit Mandi Street, Parallel Cross Road, Police Road, City Market, Mysore Road, Arcot Srinivas Street, Grain Bazaar Street, and premises of the City Market are being cleaned.

The drive will be followed by a permanent enforcement and regulatory system, traffic regulation, desilting of the storm- water drain in the area.

The BMP will soon initiate a programme to keep the market clean. To check the entry of unauthorised hawkers, gates and a compound wall around the market will be constructed.

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