Bengaluru wins: Congress cancels steel flyover project

By suman priya | First Published Mar 2, 2017, 6:48 AM IST

The decision to cancel steel flyover has come after the dairy on alleged donations collected was exposed by BJP
Even Bengaluru citizens had staged protests against felling of 812 trees for the project
Even Namma Bengaluru Foundation had filed a PIL against construction of steel flyover

Good news to those who conducted campaigns against the steel flyover project as it was harming the environment and a large part of the green cover was to be sacrificed. Now the Siddaramaiah government has decided to scrap the steel flyover project, fearing a backlash from opposition parties as well as people.

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However, this decision from the government comes after the BJP leaders in Karnataka exposed the dairy which allegedly had details of the huge amount of donations collected by the Karnataka ministers. The ministers of Congress government were criticised and targeted by BJP leaders, especially former chief minister Yeddyurappa.

Also Read: Donation Diary: Govindaraju pleads innocence, but controversy roars

It looks like now the government is trying to have a clean image again after all the scam accusations. The decision to cancel the steel flyover project also is a step towards saving the face of the party from more allegations.

Welcoming the government’s decision, Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said that “This is a big victory for citizen power – the core essence of our democracy and Urban Governance. When citizens unite themselves and fight for the city, political corruption and apathy can be conquered and city can win,” he said.

“This is also a victory for the due process of law as the NGT and High courts have shown the way. I am proud of the citizens and media of Bengaluru – they have proved themselves as worthy citizens of a great city! Namma Bengaluru! Citizen Power triumphs! I am immensely proud to represent you and be your MP,” he said.

“The battle for our city is only partially won. There is rampant corruption in many places and signs of it are everywhere – like Bellandur Lake, garbage, public health crisis, child safety in schools, water crisis etc. There is a need for us to agree on fundamental expectations from Government like statutory long-term planning, mandatory public consultations for all projects, accountability for public money and land,” he added.

“This is also a victory for the due process of law as the NGT and High courts have shown the way. I am proud of the citizens and media of Bengaluru – they have proved themselves as worthy citizens of a great city! Namma Bengaluru! Citizen Power triumphs! I am immensely proud to represent you and be your MP,” he said.

The petitions had mentioned that the construction of this flyover connecting Basaveswara Circle and Hebbal would require cutting of 812 trees.

Namma Bengaluru Foundation had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to halt the steel flyover project that is proposed from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal in Bengaluru. The several groups in Bengaluru had opposed the project on environmental grounds.

The BDA had submitted the affidavit voluntarily with due information on the status of steel flyover work, even before the court serves notice.

The ₹1,761-crore project to construct a 6.72 km long, six-lane steel flyover between Basaveshwara Circle and Hebbal to decongest traffic has faced stiff opposition as it allegedly involved felling of over 800 trees. Farmers too had opposed the project. Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium too had reportedly said that ramps might block the view of the sky.

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