Civic body has limited power in issue

Bhopal: While colonies are putting up gates on their own discretion, the civic body has a limited role in the dispute over right to way, according to Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) official. The Madhya Pradesh state capital is yet to get updated laws like other metros where law and order issues are linked with right to way. Development in Bhopal for almost two decades without an updated masterplan has created an unwelcome situation, where unreasonable restrictions on right to way/throughfare passing through a colony for access to other areas are fast becoming a civic problem.“No building or colony can deprive any other building of means of access,” said BMC commissioner, KVS Choudary. Rule 82,83,84 and others related with public facilities in Madhya Pradesh Bhumi Vikas Rules, 1984 have to be followed. The rules state: “Every person who erects a building shall not at any time erect or cause or permit to be erected any building which in any way encroaches upon or diminishes the area set apart as means of access required under these rules.” Right of way should be adequate to allow for the plying of emergency vehicles and also for road-side drains and plantation. Around 2007, the civic body in Delhi was directed by courts to revisit the guidelines over iron-gated colonies that provide limited entry and exit points to a colony. Most of new Bhopal has seen unplanned development. In many cases there is a real security issue, which in turn hampers right of way for others, said an urban planner, Ramesh Sethi.