Residents of Green Valley Apartments in North Bengaluru’s Ganigarahalli find themselves embroiled in apprehension as the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) sets sights on a portion of their complex for acquisition, intending to facilitate the expansion of an existing two-lane thoroughfare.
The BDA’s proposal to construct a 30-metre road looms ominously, casting a shadow over 16 residential units, slated for potential acquisition due to the authority’s requisition of land upon which ten foundational pillars of the apartment structure stand. Adding to the distress, while the 30-metre road finds mention in the Revised Master Plan (RMP) of 2015, lingering doubts persist regarding the BDA’s adherence to executing all road expansions outlined within the RMP framework.
In a dramatic turn of events, unease escalated among residents following the decisive actions of BDA land acquisition officers, who marked a segment of Green Valley Apartments for potential acquisition. The apartment complex, boasting a total of 48 units distributed across four blocks, lies within the bounds of Dr K Shivaram Karanth Layout. Notably, the apartment’s regularisation stemmed from the judicious interventions of the Justice AV Chandrashekar-led committee (JCC), contingent upon owners furnishing requisite documentation including copies of the occupancy certificate, approved building plans from the panchayat, and occupancy certification issued by Somashettyhalli Gram Panchayat. Despite repeated attempts, BDA engineers remained elusive for comment on the unfolding developments. As residents grapple with mounting trepidation, the impending fate of Green Valley Apartments hangs precariously in the balance, emblematic of the inherent tensions between infrastructural progress and residential stability in Bengaluru’s urban landscape. “We made a request to the BDA to change the alignment as the land in front of our building is a vacant plot. It belongs to the BDA,” Amit Kumar Tiwari, president of the Green Valley Apartment Owner’s Welfare Association said. “The BDA has promised to compensate for the land but not for the building. This will only ensure 16 families are homeless,” he added.
