Bengaluru: Human chain against steel flyover

Bengaluru, Oct 16: Protesting against the proposed construction of a steel flyover which was reportedly sanctioned without public consultation, about 8,000 people, including BJP leaders, formed a human chain here.

'Citizens Against Steel Flyover' forum today formed the human chain to intensify their protest against the flyover that links Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal. As many as 8,000 people,including prominent personalities like actor and film maker Prakash Belawadi, BJP MP Rajeev Chandrashekhar and BJP spokesperson S Suresh Kumar turned up at the human chain, held in four different points.

Flaying the project, Belawadi said the forum wants the project to be shelved as it was sanctioned without public consultation.

"We want the project to be shelved as it was sanctioned without public consultation, that is a very arrogant attitude as our questions are unanswered," he told PTI.

The state government plans to construct the Rs 1,761 crore flyover to improve connectivity to Bengaluru International Airport. Belawadi also charged that the project promoters had not taken into account the environmental implication of cutting down over 812 trees.

"Construction major L&T has bagged the contract to build the flyover, which will see as many as 812 trees chopped off, as per details made available by Bangalore Development Authority," he said.

He alleged that the government had bypassed Bangalore Metropolitan Planning Committee in sanctioning the project. He also said the Bangalore Vision Group had not spoken in favour of it as they were doubtful about it's feasibility. "The project cost is too high," he said.

Belawadi also alleged that government was misusing tax payers' money to build the flyover when citizens have several modes of transport,including a railway station at Devanahalli. The flyover was not a part of the master plan as well,he said. The cabinet had cleared the project on September 28 Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Bengaluru Development and town planning Minister K J George had defended the project, saying it was needed to decongest the city. Suresh Kumar said the party completely supports the movement against the "needless flyover."

"The project's cost escalation clearly shows it was contractor-oriented and election-fund oriented," he said. JDS State President H D Kumaraswamy alleged that the project was being used to raise party funds for next year's Uttar Pradesh assembly election.

PTI