Dr G Prameshwar rakes up steel flyover issue again

Bengaluru: The controversial proposal for a steel bridge between Chalukya Circle to Esteem Mall on Bengaluru International Airport Road, at a whopping cost of Rs 1,856 crore, has once again become a live issue with Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Prameshwar announcing that it will be revisited.

After exchanging New Year greetings with bureaucrats from BBMP, BDA and other civic agencies on Tuesday Mr Parameshwar told reporters that a fresh Detailed Project Report (DPR) would be put in public domain to elicit their response.

It may be recalled the project was shelved during the former chief minister Siddaramaiah’s regime owing to several reasons, including a rap from National Green Tribunal for failing to have Environment Impact Assessment and extensive protest by green activists.

The expensive six-lane project, meant to ease the gridlock on the busy thoroughfare, had faced vehement opposition from civic society and urban experts as they argued it will lead to a loss of about 800 trees. They also pointed out that the steel bridge would increase the temperature and was very expensive to maintain.

“Let them (public and activists) suggest why they are against the project. What are their suggestion and shortcomings in the project. It is a beautiful project to ease traffic congestion on busy airport road. I am open for public suggestions,” Mr Parameshwar said. Sources allege that with just few months left for the parliamentary elections, the Congress and JD(S) coalition government set to take up the project. Some even said that the decision would boomerang on their face as the project has already evoked widespread criticism, not just from the public but also from NGT.

The Minister’s announcement at the dawn of 2019 to revisit the steel flyover project is nothing but an attempt to divert attention from key issues plaguing Bengaluru, said Suresh N.R., Director, Namma Bengaluru Foundation. Mounting pressure from public had forced the previous government to scrap the project. Let us not forget that there were 8,000 people that assembled on the street in October 2016 to protest the steel flyover, he added.

Suresh claimed the government had shown lack of transparency over DPR and tried to mislead the people by downplaying the environmental impact by claiming that only 800 trees will be cut, whereas an independent survey had found out that over 2000 trees will have to be cut. This had angered the people and they took to streets.

Moreover claims of improving connectivity to the airport, when no alternative routes connecting the airport from areas such as Whitefield or Electronic City will only cause more congestion in the heart of the city. The government must focus on alternate mode of transport like enhancing metro and suburban railway connectivity to the airport, he said. The government cannot take people for granted and we hope common sense will prevail in Namma Bengaluru in 2019, Suresh added.