Will BDA complex shut down to make way for a mall in HSR Layout? 1

A few shopkeepers in BDA Complex have come together and knocked on the doors of the court against the agency’s plan to turn the HSR landmark into a mall. Citing loss of business, they have filed a Public Interest Litigation. However, there is no confirmation on when the case will come up for hearing. But the Bangalore Development Authority officials say that the complex will be shutdown for sure.

The shopkeepers have confirmed receiving 2-3 closure notices from the BDA so far, but nobody is clear on when the complex will eventually shutdown for construction. Until then, they are simply chugging along. Some tenants have identified alternative places while others have chosen to ‘wait and watch’.

“We are identifying a place, but nobody knows when the complex will be shut or will it be shut at all,” said retailer Vijay Purohit. “All I know is that our landlord took this shop on lease from the BDA in 2003-2004.”

According to M Prabhu, assistant executive engineer, BDA, “The complex will shutdown, but when, nobody knows”.

RESIDENTS DON’T WANT A MALL TOO!

The local shopkeepers are opposed to the idea of the BDA complex turning into a mall, because they will have to pay a lot more rent, and until the reconstruction happens, they will be without a cheaper venue. If you take them out of the equation, there is still some food for thought. Indiranagar resident and civic activist Sneha Nandihal is facing a similar issue in her locality. What she says resonates with HSR as well. “The BDA complex is supposed to provide all civic amenities to the local population,” she says. “It is meant to reduce traveling. But the proposed expansion will make it a favourite shopping/entertainment destination for outsiders, and promote long-distance traveling. It will also increase the traffic density in the neighborhood. For a residential area, it’s bad news.”

HSR resident Suraj Lulla who runs three branded showrooms in HSR Layout, agreed with Sneha: “It is not right to change every civic amenity to something which becomes commercial and the essence of having all civic facilities under one roof is lost. We should rather look at strengthening the BDA complex to be a one-stop solution to all the civic and government needs of the locality.”

One shopkeeper at the BDA complex was categorical when she said, “The BDA Complex isn’t shutting down too soon. The government itself is undecided on how to proceed with BDA complexes after the resident protests.”