Big win for citizens, High Court puts Bengaluru steel flyover project on hold

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday put a hold on the steel flyover project in Bengaluru. 

The Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) in the hearing gave an undertaking to the HC saying that it will not go ahead with the construction for now.

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

The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had on Friday restrained the BDA from proceeding with the project for four weeks.

The Green Tribunal has put a four-week stay on steel flyover, based on a petition filed by various Bengaluru citizens and interest groups. The project was supposed to begin from November 1. 

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 may block the view of the sky.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had defended the proposed construction of steel flyover calling it "totally transparent" and claimed the project was proposed in 2010 and announced in 2014-15 budget.
 

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