Bengaluru: South Western Railway alleges BBMP bid to encroach its land

BENGALURU: South Western Railway has alleged that an attempt to encroach its land, allegedly with backing from the BBMP, was recently foiled.
SWR on Wednesday slammed BBMP for the unauthorised construction of a road in railway land near Belandur Road railway station.
In a statement, SWR stated that a 300-metre-long road of 7metre width was under construction in railway land that was illegally used by people for commuting from Panathur Main road to Panathur Dinne near Belandur Road station of Bengaluru City-Salem rail section.
“This area has many apartments and new habitations have come up to cater to nearby IT tech parks. Recently, a BBMP contractor laid a road overnight without the permission of railways and attempted to encroach railway land,” said a press release.
During a recent routine inspection, railway staff noticed this and informed RPF on June 15. “Railway staff protected the land from unauthorized construction of road by erecting barrier of old rail sleepers over the road and boundary pillars to demarcate from permanent encroachment”, it said,
On Wednesday, Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan conducted a review meeting with officials of railway and BBMP along with local residents.
“BBMP informed that it is in process of acquiring private land and partial work has been done, balance work expected to complete in six months. During the meeting for the benefit of the local public, both parties agreed to maintain the status quo and BBMP agreed not to do further work on railway land. Railways also agreed to process requests of BBMP for temporary use of road by local public till land acquisition done in six months”, the release adds.