Indiranagar kids up in arms against stadium proposed on playground

BENGALURU: Residents of Indiranagar, including children, were out on the streets on Saturday to oppose the construction of an indoor basketball stadium on the playground at 4th Main, Indiranagar 1st stage.
"This is the only playground for children in the whole of Indiranagar stage 1 and 2,"said Rebecca Kurien, resident of Indiranagar 1st Stage. "They will be depriving children of an open play area."
Residents have been protesting against plans to build the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) office at the playground.On July 4, residents were shocked to hear Bengaluru development minister KJ George announce that the playground would be developed into an indoor basketball stadium and the BMRC offices would be constructed on the upper floors.
The residents said that in February 2015, the urban development department had closed the file pertaining to BMRC's plans to build its office in the locality, following opposition from residents.
The residents expressed concern about disappearing lung spaces, especially in a highly built-up area like Indiranagar. Said Vani Shankar, "Another building is the last thing we need in Indiranagar.Very soon, we will have to walk around with oxygen cylinders. We reclaimed this playground last November from a private cricket club, now we have to fight for it again."
Resident welfare associations across Indiranagar said the playground already has offices of BBMP engineers, health officers, Hopcoms and corporators, a Nandini milk booth and a library. This violates the rules of the revised Master Plan 2015, which says the area for such use should not exceed 5% of the total area and should not be more than ground plus one floor.