Residents of HRBR Layout 5th ‘A’ Main Road in Bengaluru, stage a protest on Sunday morning against a cafe coming up in their residential area.
Around 30 residents, young and old, who gathered raised several concerns regarding Blossomly House, a proposed commercial homestay cum cafeteria. “If 20–30 or more people gather and smoke at the premises, it could create significant health and nuisance concerns for neighbouring residents. Bengaluru: Opposing the opening of a homestay-cum- café near their homes, residents of HRBR Layout’s 5th A Main Road hit the streets with banners and slogans. They argued that such facilities should not be opened inside what they call a peaceful residential layout. They also alleged that a rajakaluve beside the property has also been encroached upon by the owner and the installation of a commercial exhaust system is feared to generate considerable noise, smoke, odour and air pollution for surrounding residents. Along with that, with a large number of customers entering and leaving, talking, gathering and moving around, there is a possibility of increased noise disturbance in what is otherwise a residential area,” stated KR Prabhakar, a resident. For the elder residents living near the place, potential chaos also seems to be a worry. With neighbouring roads already experiencing commercial activity and parking pressure, they point out that a commercial establishment inside the residential area may take away parking spaces used by the locals. The former leader of opposition of the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) who joined the protest expressed that the area is purely residential and no commercial development will be allowed under any circumstances. The residents believe that such establishments in residential areas are illegal and have already written to Bengaluru North City Corporation (BNCC) to verify all required permissions, including zoning, land-use compliance and rajakaluve clearance.