The Booth Ground Development Project in Banavaswadi’s Bhuvanagiri base has been in the works for several years and the development problem has not been resolved yet.
In the playground at the Bhuvanagiri basement, the ruined walls, the half-storied building, the pond that had been erected for swimming pool, and the plants growing around. There is now only one playground for the whole city.
The playground, named ‘Booth Ground’, was initially planned for development projects at a cost of Rs. 20 crore. In the first phase, a total of Rs. 10.5 crore has been taken up by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), including an indoor stadium, a stadium, a race track and a swimming pool.
A building has been built for the indoor stadium. The pothole is left next to the swimming pool. The plain was built as a barrier to the theater. All of them are under construction. The leased company has been shut down for years.
‘This ruined building is literally like a ghost town. Everlasting residents are prowling in the dusty fields of the plains. Students and youth are playing cricket. Around the wire fence, there are blister holes to penetrate, and if a little dark the ground becomes a center of alcohol consumption. There is no listener, ‘complains the native.
“It has been 8 years since the stadium development project was proposed. Frequent shutdowns are common after work begins. They have abandoned the ground which was fine. Let’s ask. There is a watchman in the building built for the indoor stadium, and no other officer is heading. I don’t know who to ask. ‘
Re-tender approval soon
“The contractors who halted the work have been given 8 times notice and they have not responded. Therefore, those contractors are being blacklisted and ready to be re-tendered,” a BDA official said.
Rs. 10.5 crores of work was undertaken. It has a bill payment of Rs. 2.8 crore. The remaining tender has been called for re-tendering.
“The matter will be presented before the BDA Board of Governors and will be issued to other contractors as soon as they are approved,” he said.
