Elevated corridor violates many laws, says Vinay Sreenivasa

Bengaluru: State’s ambitious Elevated Corridor project, estimated to be built at a cost of Rs 33,600, violates a number of laws including Karnataka Tree Preservation Act, Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, the 74th Constitutional Amendment as well as several High Court and NGT orders regarding impact assessment and due process, said Mr Vinay Sreenivasa, an advocate and member of Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike.

A discussion on ‘Elevated Corridors: The Need for Alternatives’, organised by the Vedike on Saturday, brought together a panel of experts on mobility, city planning, urban commons and law, along with citizens to discuss issues surrounding the project.

Mr Sreenivasa said that the corridor violates the constitutional principles by claiming public resources, meant to “subserve the common good” for the benefit of a small minority of car users.

He emphasised the need to conduct a “cumulative environment impact assessment” by looking at the larger effect of all different parallel projects being planned in the city, instead of piecemeal impact assessments for each project separately.

Mr H.S. Sudhira of Gubbi Labs said, “Comprehensive city planning has not been the priority, despite having the Master Plan, Comprehensive Mobility Plan, etc. Such projects are sprung upon people who have to bear the consequences of irrational planning.”

Ms Radha Chanchani, an urban designer-planner, said, “Bus is the workhorse for the city. We see that roads are getting wider to accommodate private vehicles and that is why proposals for flyovers, underpasses and elevated corridors are made. What needs to be planned for are infrastructure for buses, pedestrians and cyclists.”