Real estate developers buy TDR at throwaway price

May 19th, 2011

Many real estate brokers have emerged as TDR aggregators, who then sell the certificates to developers. There are over 60 TDR brokers in Bangalore. TDR brokers charge 2 per cent from landowners and 1 per cent from developers/buyers as brokerage fee. In most cases, broker’s commission varies from Rs 5-15 pr sqft.

We have bought 5-6 lakh sqft of TDR that we plan to load on to our upcoming projects,” said Irfan Razack, CMD of Prestige Estates & Projects. The company is deploying TDRs in three commercial properties measuring over 1 lakh sqft that is expected to come up on Bellary Road, Palace Road and Marigowda Road.

Century Real Estate is buying 2.5 lakh sqft of TDR that will be deployed in the Four Seasons hotel project in Hebbal and a commercial project on Bellary Road. Sobha Developers holds 1 lakh sqft of TDR.

“The TDR market has suddenly picked up pace. Developers are able to see the benefits of using TDRs,” said B M Poonacha, head of land and special projects at real estate brokerage L J Hooker.

TDR Bangalore is a tradeable certificate issued by BBMP Bangalore to landowners in lieu of area surrendered by them for developing public amenities. It entitles the landowner to build a certain amount of floor space and this right is enshrined in a certificate (development right certificate) issued to the landowner. This certificate can be utilized by the holder or he can sell it. And the floor space can be created in any of the three zones (A, B & C) as defined by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA)’s zoning regulations.  Since sellers don’t perceive a market for these certificates, developers are able to buy TDRs at throwaway sums.

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Up and down the humps of the city

May 12th, 2011

Speed thrills but kills’. One can find many billboards advocating safe driving in the city Marathahallai . This is where the speed breakers step in. But what does one do when the speed breakers are the culprits? Ironic isn’t it? The reason for this is that many of the speed breakers are not constructed as per the rules and regulations provided by the Indian Road Congress (IRC).

There are a number of issues with the speed breakers in the city. Some of the most prominent ones being — wrong shape and size, unmarked humps residential areas,  school zones along with those that have been constructed inappropriately. Speed breakers are a must when it comes to the safety of and other such locations. But more often than not they do not conform to the specifications.

There are over 6,000 speed breakers in the city. This number includes those on the main road and those in residential areas as well. While the ones on the main road are still easier on the motorist, those in the residential areas literally feel like a mountain in the middle of the road. Classic examples are those on Old Airport Road near HAL and in the by-lanes of Indiranagar. “Those that can be found in the by-lanes are usually constructed on the residents’ request by the corporator,” said MN Sreehari, Chairman of TEST AND adviser to the State Government on Traffic, Transportation and Infrastructure Project.

“The High Court had ordered the removal of illegal humps over a year ago. Those on the main road have been scrapped, while those constructed in the residential areas still stand. There is a procedure to remove speed breakers which is not being followed. While removing the speed breaker the BBMP has to ensure that they do not create a negative dip. These dips are more dangerous than the humps itself,

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No random stops for buses

May 6th, 2011

In a metropolitan like Bangalore, efficient public transport is of utmost importance. Until five years ago, one had to make do with the ordinary blue and white buses that were equipped with pneumatic doors. These buses were always congested and packed. Travelling in these buses were always a nightmarish experience.

Though some of these buses still operate, the BMTC has launched a number of other buses like the BIG 10 and Vajra in the last few years that have eased the commuter’s journey. “I used to travel in the blue and white bus, the 201, from Austin Town to National Games Village. That particular bus was always crowded. But today the scene has changed a lot. The Volvos are a boon. They are efficient and comfortable,” said Siddhartha, a regular commuter.

While these buses have proved their worth, there are a few problems that have been ignored for a while now. The biggest of these is that most of the places where these buses stop are either before or after a signal, a flyover or a junction. Some of the most common and frequently  used ones are —  the Marathahalli bridge after the signal, Domlur flyover and Airport Road after HAL signal.

These stops cause major traffic jam. The Marathahalli bridge stop is soon after a signal. Traffic pours in at this junction from ITPL and outer ring road. The result, one can find at least three to four buses parked on the road waiting for passengers.

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BBMP gets act together after rain misery

April 28th, 2011

After last week’s unexpected severe rain across Bangalore that made life miserable for residents, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has chalked out contingency plan to tackle the coming monsoon.

Despite action plans being drawn up, the BBMP is not equipped to handle such sudden downpours and has failed miserably in this front several times whenever the city receives heavy rainfall. Last week’s rainfall threw life out of gear and brought vehicular traffic to a virtual standstill with roads being flooded with rainwater.

The chief minister called an emergency meeting on April 24 afternoon with BBMP commissioner and other higher officials to discuss and examine the precautionary measures taken up by the BBMP. To implement the measures at the earliest,

the BBMP commissioner held a meeting on April 25 with additional commissioners and chief engineers of all eight BBMP Zones.

BBMP commissioner Siddaiah strictly directed the officials to execute the following action plan to avoid flooding caused by rainfall

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SPECIAL ATMs FOR BLIND NOWHERE TO BE SEEN

April 15th, 2011

Despite instructions from the Reserve Bank of India that all banks should have one third of their ATMs with Braille keypads and audio aid, there are just four such machines in the city for the visually impaired
USING ATMs in the city is a task for the visually impaired, as most banks do not have Braille and talking machines, despite instructions from the RBI to make changes.

It has been two years since Veena Kumari ( 35), has been requesting a bank for a debit card. The bank refuses to give her one claiming that she would not be able to recognise the PIN number on the card, and would require assistance to conduct transactions.

“ The bank says that if I am given a card, it will be misused because the PIN is not in Braille. There are no ATM centres here with braille keypads and audio systems. What is the use of a card then?” questioned Kumari.

P K Paul, founder of Indian Disabled League Foundation, a NGO, said that according to 2001 census, there are 4.5 lakh visually impaired in Karnataka and almost around 1 lakh in Bangalore. He added that debit cards are a necessity these days and insisted that customised ATMs should be installed at the earliest.

It’s a must

To ensure safe banking for visually impaired, the RBI, in 2008, had issued an order that all commercialised, nationalised and state banks should have one third of their ATMs with Braille keypads and audio aid.
An official from the RBI said that the regulation was reinforced in January 2011 and the RBI hopes that all banks would install such machines by the end of the year.

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People’s problems

April 15th, 2011

No bus connection

We the residents of HSR second sector find it extremely difficult to commute to other parts of Bangalore like Banashankari and Jayanagar. We have to go to Agara and find a connecting bus from there. It will be easier if there are frequent buses from Parangipalya to Agara or Silk Board. This will benefit hundreds of commuters. Auto drivers charge  exorbitantly and it becomes difficult for those who commute daily. If buses ply frequently from Parangipalya via Agara and Silk Board, people working in ITPL and Marathahalli can also make use of  these buses, including Vajra buses. This will also encourage people not to use two-wheelers and four-wheelers. Will the BMTC authorities kindly consider this proposal?

Stray dog menace

The waste from the mutton shop situated at the corner of the road opposite Kanthi Sweets near  Sindhi School, Hebbal Kempapura main road, is dumped in the vicinity, turning it into a garbage dump. This has also led to dog menace.
The BBMP authorities should shift the mutton shop. Also the roads in the area should be asphalted as the present roads raise a lot of dust whenever vehicles pass by.
Residents,
Viswas Enclave Flat
Association, Hebbal
Kempapura, Bangalore

Bad road

The state of the New BEL Road near Ramaiah Hospital is pathetic. There are  pits dug by BWSSB and no repair work has been taken up for many months. Also the repair work on the footpath is abandoned midway. Is BBMP going to rectify this problem?

Residents of New BEL Road,
Dollars Colony.

Road widening

I am a resident of Rashidnagar on Nagavara main road, which is one of the oldest areas. There are no civic amenities in the locality, including water and roads. The Tannery Road-Ring Road stretch, the shortest route to the international airport is always choked with traffic. The road needs to be widened.

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Wall creates a great divide in BTM Layout

April 14th, 2011

Residents of BTM Layout are fighting over a wall on a public road that one group wants to retain and the other wants demolished.

The wall is being constructed at 4th Cross between 12th ‘A’ Main Road and 13th Main Road in BTM Layout Ist stage. Residents of Bank Colony nearby say it has been there for the last two decades. It was recently demolished by the BBMP during some work on a storm water drain. In the absence of the wall, vehicles tried to enter the road and caused a nuisance. Hence, they want the wall to be reconstructed at the earliest.

Other residents allege that the wall is hampering free movement of vehicles. Prasanna, a resident of BTM Layout, said, “How can one construct a wall blocking a public road? Some people with vested interests are behind the act and they enjoy the backing of elected representatives. A case was registered in Mico Layout police station and work was temporarily stopped.

We have complained to BBMP to take appropriate action, but nothing has been done as yet.”

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Residents join hands to ensure better healthcare for maids

April 13th, 2011

A group of residents in Marathahalli have joined hands to give dignity of labour a whole new meaning. They have launched an initiative to ensure their maids, housekeeping staff and their families get access to better health-care. Their initiative ‘Cure with dignity’, is a long-term project which involves regularly taking their maids and housekeeping staff to health camps for checkups. The maids also get a day off to attend these camps.

The initiative is the brainchild of Jonali Saikia, a learning and development professional, who says she wanted to get the entire residential community of her apartment, Pura Riviera, and the others around involved.

“Most of us help our maids in our individual capacities, but I felt that a greater good could be achieved if we joined hands and worked together,” Saikia said. “We are a fairly well settled community. Our maids make our lives smoother. We wanted to do something for them in return.”

Two issues spurred Saikia – their maids’ lack of awareness on health-care and their lack of finance. “Two years ago, my maid asked me for leave so that she could take her sister, who was unwell, to a doctor in her hometown. The maid’s sister eventually died. At first, I thought it probably was a complicated case, but later I found that it was acute appendicitis. My maid’s family didn’t have the money nor were they aware of the treatment available. I felt bad as this was something which could have been easily cured.”

Saikia teamed up with Amit Gundecha, Yatin Samant, Sudhir Brahma, Dipankar K, A Tulika among many others, all of whom had similar goals in mind. Now, more than 20 volunteers from the apartment complex are actively involved in the initiative.

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Plastic ban: It`s all in your hands

April 8th, 2011

After continued campaigns by environmentalists against the ill-effects of plastic bags, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board’s (KSPCB) notified the ban on the manufacture of such bags less than 40 microns in thickness.

Environmentalists have now joined hands with the BBMP and KSPCB to involve RWAs and people in making the ban effective, starting with Koramangala.

On March 26 afternoon, officials from KSPCB and BBMP will launch an initiative from the Palike’s Ward office in Koramangala 5th Block make the area a plastic-free zone. “All like-minded citizens are invited to attend the meet and make this project a success,” said one of the campaigners, Nevina Kamath.

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Broken roads make commuting difficult

April 1st, 2011

Broken roads and heavy vehicles have made life hell for commuters of Bellandur. The roads of Bellandur, one of the most populated areas of Sarjapur, are already narrow and because of movement of heavy vehicles, they are breaking up and making commuting very difficult.

Cityplus had earlier reported that residents are facing problem due to the construction behind the corporate office of Wipro. The broken roads are adding to the misery of the residents at Bellandur. Heavy vehicles and trucks ply on this road because of the construction,” sources said.

The residents have addressed the problem to the authorities and also to Babu Reddy, corporator of BBMP ward no. 150. When Cityplus spoke to the corporator, he said construction work has stopped. But according to the residents, construction was stopped for a week but it began again.

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