Bangalore, Oct. 14: Citizens' groups in Bangalore are set to form a human chain on Sunday in protest against a flyover that will slice through the city's heart and uproot over 800 trees.
The 6.7km six-lane steel flyover aims at easing traffic flow and eliminating congested bottlenecks on way to the international airport. It will run from Basaveshwara Circle near the Vidhana Soudha (the state secretariat) to the congested Hebbal junction towards the north.
But citizens' groups, angered by the Congress government's announcement that it was proceeding with the flyover despite multiple objections, claim the project is highly impractical.
A member of Citizens Against Steel Flyover, Prakash Belawadi, said: "At Rs 267 crore per km, this will be the costliest road on earth. What is the point in messing up a functional road to build a bridge on top of it?"
Belawadi, an actor and filmmaker, added: "The other issue is the total lack of transparency as the Congress seems to have suddenly cleared the project and floated a tender in September last year."
The Opposition BJP has joined the chorus against the flyover, estimated to cost Rs 1791 crore. It would also entail the chopping down of 812 trees that form the famed canopy along the road that skirts the golf club.
K.J. George, the minister for Bangalore development, said: "We have consulted many experts after this project was announced in 2014." He said the government was ready to explain its position to the people.
Although the project was announced at a cost of Rs 1,100 crore in February 2014, things started moving after September last year. By then, the cost had escalated to Rs 1,791 crore.
"Now, they are pushing the project without entertaining discussions with citizens' groups and experts. That's a very arrogant attitude as our questions are unanswered," said Belawadi.
The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has clarified that the cost includes other facilities along the flyover. "The total cost includes the main flyover, up and down ramps, three underpasses, surface level road, drainage system, illumination and traffic safety appurtenances," it said.
It also claimed that 299 suggestions, 73 per cent for the project, had been received from the public after a media statement was issued in June.
Experts have, however, warned the government against starting a project that will slice through one of the busiest parts of the city.
"It'll be the death of Bangalore as we know it," said urban expert V. Ravichandar. "The whole project is a disaster for the city as what we want is mobility and not just engineering."
He said the issue was not about losing 812 trees or building a steel structure. "It's the character of the city that we are going to lose.
"You won't find a single major city anywhere in the world with such a badly planned structure near a beautiful secretariat like the Vidhana Soudha," he said, adding that allowing two-way traffic on some roads would ease congestion significantly.
"No good city can afford to negate walking space for pedestrians and just go for these ugly structures that spoil the existing aesthetics."
The Bangalore Vision Group (BVG) has voiced doubts on whether the project will serve its purpose. "The project cost is too high, although connectivity to the airport is important," said Vivek Menon, a BVG member.
State BJP chief B.S. Yeddyurappa sniffed a scam. "I suspect a scam. The Congress is using this project to siphon money to the party fund," he claimed, without giving details.
Chief minister P.C. Siddaramiah trashed the allegation. "Every single detail of the project is on the BDA website."
The protests have reached social media. "This is crazy! Karnataka govt does not believe in city planning at all! Fast track metros, promote pooling, improve buses," tweeted Piyush Rajan.
