On May 2nd, Transport Minister R Ashok inaugurated an incomplete JP Nagar underpass near 24th Main, 15th Cross road junction. The overbridge which runs from 24th Main towards Puttenahalli and Jambusavari Dinne has been opened.

Road towards Sarakki from from 24th Main 15th cross
junction. Pic: Chetan Boray.

Out of the four side-roads branching out of the overbridge, only two side roads towards JP Nagar 6th phase and Sarakki signal are functioning. The other two side roads are still under construction and not open to public. Construction of underpass road leading from 6th phase JP Nagar to Bannerghatta is also not been completed.

Some part of the overbridge has been used for storing a tar-machine. Tarring of a part of the overbridge is also not completed. A resident of JP Nagar 15th Cross and President of JP Nagar Citizen’s Association, E Meundi says, "It’s very inconvenient to get in and out of my house." The foot path in front of his house has been removed for road widening.

Chetan Boray

Mayor felicitated

The Federation of Residents Welfare Associations and Jayanagar Residents Welfare Civic and Cultural Association honoured newly elected Mayor of BBMP S K Nataraj and Corporators of Jayanagar on May
5th.

Also present were B N Vijayakumar, MLA of Jayangar, Keshava Kumar N, President of Jayanagar Residents Welfare Association, K V Bhaskarmurthy, President of Federation, newly elected corporators of Jayanagar Constituency Ramamurthy, N Nagaraju, B Somashekar and Chandrashekara Raju.

Keshava Kumar of Jayanagar Residents Welfare
Civic and Cultural Association.

Music programme in mini forest stopped

The state government’s Kannada and Culture department and the BBMP’s horticulture department are working without coordination with each other. The former was to conduct a musical progamme "Udhaya Raaga" on May 9th at JP Nagar Mini forest park. The programme will now not happen; BBMP rules bar such programmes in this park.

A session of ‘Udhaya Raaga’ programme held in Mini
forest. Pic courtesy: Nagaraj Rao.

C K Nagaraja Rao, a volunteer of the ‘Udhya Raaga’ progamme confirmed the cancellation. The Kannada department conducts classical and Sugama Sangeetha musical programes in BBMP parks. Udhaya Raaga is conducted on second and fourth Sundays of every month.

Superintendent Nagappa Atturkar of BBMP Horticulture Department says, "Permission of stage shows will be given only to those parks where a stage is built, for example in Bugle Rock Park in Basavanagudi".

Currently there is no stage in JP Nagar Mini forest park. Rao, however, says "We were enjoying the music in the park and this programme was going on from the past three years." The case is further complicated by an already running High Court stay order asking the Kannada and Culture department to stop conducting "Udhaya Raaga" in the Mini forest park.

P Kodandaramaiah, a retd IPS officer and an ex-Member of Parliament, who is a resident of JP Nagar had petitioned the High Court on this. He declined to comment on the issue.

Chetan Boray

Corporator banners mushrooming in city

Larger-than-life-size banner of S K Nataraj. Pic: Chetan
Boray.

The BBMP elections last month has been followed by sprouting of banners and hoardings around the city, positioning the winners as leaders. Some of the banners are larger-than-life-size cut outs of the corporators – almost like national and regional party level publicity pinups.

In typical political party style, the banners have your corporator as the main character along with a host of small pictures of top party leaders as well as others from party rank and file. S K Nataraj, who became a third time corporator and has since become mayor has his banners all over his Sarakki Ward.

Pictures of JP Nagar ward corporator Chandrasekar Raju also figure in these banners. BBMP advertisement bylaws do not have clearcut rules for regulating political hoardings including those for public events. ⊕