BENGALURU: Going one step further from protesting against the controversial steel flyover from Chalukya Circle to Hebbal, Citizens for Bengaluru have drawn plan for ‘ChikuBukuBeku’ or local train beku with Bengaluru Rail Map.
Founder-member of CfB, Srinivas Alavalli pointed out that the commuter train was not just cheaper than Namma Metro, but also will cater to thousands of people and decongest the city. Imagine reaching Majestic in flat 35 minutes for just Rs 12, as against two hours and spending Rs 300 by car. Obviously, people choose local train. Even travelling by bus, which takes two hours and costs Rs 60, is no comparison. The existing 40 stations should be effectively utilized.
Srinivas on Wednesday released the map and in his Facebook post, which stated, “We have been asking for decades – 33 years to be precise. I am referring to the suburban train service that is missing in action in Bengaluru. Pune and Hyderabad got it in recent years, but no such luck for Bengaluru.”
What we got instead is notorious traffic and pollution and an emerging market for air purifiers and potential market for oxygen tanks.
Bengaluru is in global news regularly, for all the wrong reasons, he stated in his post.
Saddened over the frequent news on more tree being cut and elevated corridors, Mr Srinivas said, “To add insult to injury, we are frequently greeted with news of more trees being cut, more elevated corridors filling up our landscape and political leaders taunting citizens publicly and daring us to stop them from cutting trees if we can.”
So, what shall we do? Go home and wait for miracles to happen whenever they do? Hope that the elevated corridors will magically fix the traffic issue? Let go of trees so we can set records for new cars being registered every day?, he questioned.
He exhorted the citizens to take to streets and enlist more support for this cause and hope that the powers that be will feel the heat and stop making excuses?
Public transport is the only way out and only that can save us from oxygen masks. If implemented properly, the local trains can cater to 25 lakh people every day. Join us in this massive public campaign and survey to create awareness about this much neglected project. We need you, the post said.
IAF refutes minister’s claim
In reply to a query by Rajya Sabha Member Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Defence Ministry has negated the claim of transfer of land to Karnataka government from IAF for the proposed steel flyover from Chalukya Circle to the Hebbal.
Bengaluru Development Minister K. J. George had reportedly told media that he had discussed transfer of land that belongs to the Air Force Training Command Headquarters near Hebbal.
The IAF disputed the minister’s version saying the authorities haven't received any communication from the state government for a meeting on the requirement of defence land for the proposed project. The fact that there was no meeting with the IAF raises concerns about delays even if the project goes through.
This leaves a larger question in our mind. How can any Government invite the tender for multi-crore project without acquiring necessary land transfers, he said.
If the Defence Ministry disagrees to handover the required land, the project will be stuck for many years and the public will be put to endless troubles.
