Bengalurians protest against the Steel Fly Over project

Bengaluru: Bengalurians came on road protesting against the upcoming steel fly over project here on Sunday at Shivananda Circle where the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has proposed a 326-metre long steel bridge.

Over 500 persons were carrying placards and carried a silent protest and forming human chains on all four sides of the junction. Local residents and owners of various commercial establishments chorused in unison that there is no need for a flyover, and all that the BBMP needs to do is widen the road near the railway bridge. 

The state Cabinet had given approved the BBMP to construct the flyover at a cost of Rs 19.85 crore. With land acquisition, the project cost will escalate to Rs 40 crore. The BBMP has called for tenders to construct the steel flyover with a carriageway width of 14 metres, connecting commuters from Race Course Road towards Hare Krishna Road and the railway underpass in Sheshadripuram. 

The BBMP will have to fell 26 of the total 30 raintrees on the stretch to construct the flyover. The trees are over 50 years old and strong. And the residents are in no mood to let the trees be cut.

“Our request to the BBMP to prune tree branches during monsoon was rejected. Now it cites necessity to axe 26 trees,” say the agitated residents.