No sports stadium, will improve existing playground: BBMP

By Qamar ZJ

Call it a PR disaster or blame the over-enthusiastic architects who drafted a grand plan for a multi-purpose sports stadium in HSR Layout, but BBMP is now retracing its steps. It is no longer calling it a stadium with focus on cricket, but an open playground that will be improved at a cost of Rs 20 crore in the first phase, and an additional Rs 20 crore in the second phase.

After a few rounds of discussions with the residents, the Federation of HSR Layout Residents Welfare Association has discussed the matter with BBMP Joint Commissioner (Bomannahalli) M Ramakrishna and MLA Sathish Reddy. “They have agreed to all the points made by the residents, except for one change,” informed HE Chandrashekar, Chairman of the HSR Federation. “Instead of benches all around the playground, they will erect a gallery (a stepped, concrete, seating area).”

This development comes as a partial relief to the residents. Says Shivakumar, the Sector 6 resident who was part of the PIL that got the playground back to the residents after five years of legal battle : “If it remains an open playground, there will be no violation of the High Court order.”

The BBMP is also modifying many aspects of its current plan to reflect the residents’ interests. For example, the focus will no longer be on a cricket stadium. “There will be a cricket pitch made of clay, but there won’t be an exclusive playground just for cricket,” says Chandrashekar. “We are still awaiting suggestions from all the sector welfare associations. Once we compile them all, we will put them in front of the BBMP to decide what is possible, and what is not possible. For example, the residents on the southside are opposing an entry/exit gate for fear of parking and pollution issues. So one suggestion is to make it a ‘no parking’ area where the gate will only be used in case of an emergency, and closed at all other times.”

The other problem is the viewing area. The residential houses behind the playground’s south wall don’t want the viewing area to come up as it would cause undue disturbances. Similarly, the residents want the playground to be used by all sportspersons, and no undue importance be given to any one sport. “The BBMP officials have said that they will consult architects to see how these demands can be accommodated in the new design,” says Chandrashekar. “They are saying that the current plan shared by them no longer applies.”

The residents want the playground to be freely accessible to all, with no regulated entry. The existing plan of a cricket stadium that can seat 6000 people (which was later modified to 5000) has upset many residents. “In a country like ours, sports infrastructure is most welcome,” says long-time Sector 4 resident and former first-class cricketer Fazal Khaleel, and Chairman of state Ranji trophy selection committee. “But it should not be restricted to only one sport and one set of people. It’s a people’s place and everyone should be allowed to reap the benefits of a place as proposed by the BBMP. Since the plan is only for a sports stadium, it should not be used for any other purpose other than what it’s meant for. However, if it’s a sneaky way to use the name of sports, and build a place for conducting more religious, political, and cultural activities, the noble idea is derailed.”

Encroachments galore in HSR Layout

The residents are also upset because several Civic Amenity (CA) sites in HSR Layout have been encroached over the years. A land meant for a library went to building Queens Hospital on 24th Main. Another CA site was used to build a wedding hall (Siddhartha Convention Centre) in Sector 2. A convention hall has also come up in a playground in Sector 1. Before that, a median park was encroached to build the Saibaba temple and Nandini Cool Joint on 19th Main in Sector 3. “If BBMP wants to promote sports, let them retain the open playground,” says resident Girish KS. “Players need a play area, not spectators.” 


Minimum concrete, maximum sports

The residents want minimal developmental works on the playground to maintain its sanctity. “The BBMP just needs to upgrade the existing infrastructure of the playground, and not turn it into a hi-tech stadium that will attract thousands of viewers and cause all sorts of traffic, and environmental issues,” says resident activist RS Murthy.”Since early 2014, the resident associations have been interacting regularly with successive Commissioners and Joint Commissioners of BBMP (Bommanahalli) besides the elected representatives to only focus on development, such as peripheral tress, security personnel, marking areas for children to play, and a walking/jogging track for the adults. Our explicit request was to not build any concrete structures in the playground. That it must be an open area/lung space. In spite of meeting and discussions thereof during the last over 6-7 years, the residents of HSR Layout have not seen any progress so far.”

Traffic congestion and parking problems

The traffic chaos that the stadium will unleash is another major concern. “The very idea of having a seating capacity of 6000 people and just 200 car parks is by itself scary and a thoughtless idea that will result in severe traffic jams in the residential neighbourhood,” says Lalithamba BV of Harlur Samasandrapalya Residents Association. “This will lead to various types of pollution. 
During the pandemic times, we feel the focus must be only on the overall development and maintainence of lakes, parks, roads, street lights, and other civic amenities.”

Some residents feel that the initial grant of Rs 7.5 crore should not go to waste, and the existing playground can be improved with this money. However, a few residents believe that ticketing counters, massive viewing gallery for 5000 people, and concrete structures should be avoided at all costs. The existing plan of BBMP also includes separate open play areas for various sporting activities, with a lion’s share of it going to cricket, and an indoor stadium that will accommodate a library, auditorium, and TT/Badminton courts. Will this idea be put on the backburner remains to be seen. While some residents feel that a library and auditorium are necessary, other residents feel that the illegal Nandini Cool Joint on 19th Main, right opposite the playground, can be taken back by the BBMP to build a library and auditorium. Adds Sector 6 resident Raje Urs, and former Chairman of HSR Federation: “We have only one playground for the entire layout. If this is taken away, where will our children play? Do we want to hide our children amidst the concrete jungle? The beautiful layout is ruined due to the construction of 4, 5 and 6-storied buildings. Now, BBMP wants to destroy this lung space. The playground belongs to us and we must safeguard it for the posterity of the residents’ children.”

EditorSpeak

While it’s good that the BBMP is ready to modify its plan to accommodate the demands of the residents, there is still no clarity if the plan for the contentious indoor stadium is shelved. While the residents are divided over this issue, my biggest concern is the lack of transparency from the very beginning. Without consulting the public, the BBMP went ahead and called for tenders in February 2020. When the stadium plan was shared in resident groups, there was all-round alarm, and much media coverage. The BBMP was taken aback by the response. Now, they have shelved the stadium plan, and are calling it a playground. However, is it just a change in nomenclature, or are they only going to improve the open playground and not allow any concrete structures, barring the viewing gallery? Will they form a proper citizen committee, comprising eminent sportspersons in the area, and not just political stooges appointed by the local netas? Will it stick to the rule of no ‘non-sports events’ for more than five days in a month? What about the parking issues that will crop up if the seating area is allocated for 5000 people? These are all issues that need to be factored into account before the BBMP reveals its revised master plan for the playground. Until then, we can never be sure of the civic agency’s real intentions, going by their past record of playground development in other areas of Bangalore.