Bengaluru losing its open spaces as another playground acquired by Namma Metro

Civic Issues

BMRCL has barricaded the area and placed all the construction equipment on the playground leaving no place for children to play.

TNM Staff

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Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has acquired another playground for the construction of Namma Metro’s Red Line.   The Featherlight Pottery Town Government High school playground has been taken over by the BMRCL for the construction of the underground railway track that will fall between Dairy Circle and Nagawara. The high school playground is used by children to play sports and various tournaments, cultural and religious meetings are also held at the ground from time to time. The BMRCL has now put up a banner in front of the ground which reads “BMRCL work in progress, unauthorised person’s entry restricted.” The area has been barricaded and construction material has also been brought to the ground. According to TOI, BMRCL has said that acquiring the already existing open spaces will help them in minimizing the acquisition of private land and speed up the construction work. BMRCL also said using playgrounds to store the construction materials will reduce the traffic that may be caused if it is placed elsewhere. A survey conducted by Janagraha has revealed that only 3 per cent of the total area in Bengaluru has parks and open spaces. Earlier, a technical training centre for the hearing impaired, BBMP Higher Primary School in Tasker town and a school for children with learning and cognitive disabilities were taken over by the BMRCL. Social and environmental activist, Arun Prasad stated that the decisions taken by the BMRCL are affecting the environment and the heritage of the city. “The measures taken by the state government must be eco-friendly, public friendly and sustainable. The anti-citizen behaviour of the BMRCL must be met with severe consequences,” he said. Previously too, the BMRCL has been at the receiving end of criticism and faced protest for changing the locations of two metro stations in the second phase of Bengaluru Metro project. The Red Line is a part of Phase 2 of the Namma Metro project.

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