Bengaluru divided over `1,791-cr steel ‘VIP flyover’
BENGALURU: People’s groups are unhappy with a proposed 6.7km steel flyover that will allow commuters skirt some of the most congested traffic points in India’s IT hub to reach the airport, but the government is determined to go ahead with it.
Protesters oppose the flyover for the `1,791 crore it will cost, which is `260 crore a km, the two years it is expected to take, and 800-odd trees that the city will lose.
They have organised impromptu protests, formed human chains and taken to Twitter, berating an unrelenting government with hashtags such as #SayNoToSteelFlyover or #SteelFlyoverBeda.
Some even dubbed the proposed steel structure a “VIP flyover”, saying it would be little use to the common man for whom journeys to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) aren’t a priority.
The flyover is meant to come up in northern Bengaluru, but traffic is heaviest in the city’s southeast and the central business district.
The Congress government sold the project as a booster dose for real estate in north Bengaluru, where development has been slow compared to the city’s other areas.
Agriculture minister Krishna Byre Gowda is confident the flyover will benefit the city.
“You guys want us to provide you solutions. But when we come up with a plan, you play right into the hands of opposition parties. Your protests are unreasonable,” he said on Saturday, criticising the protesters.
Proximity to the airport has not turned out to be a selling point for major developers and builders such as Manyata, Sobha, Prestige and Brigade, who went the whole hog with their premium properties in north Bengaluru. Industrial BENGALURU: As demonstrations both for and against the proposed construction of a steel flyover here continue, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said efforts are on to inform the public of the actualities of the project.
“Both for and against opinions have been expressed on the proposed construction of a steel flyover here. Bengaluru development and town planning growth in the area is at an all-time low, and all the investment in real estate has done little to improve the area’s infrastructure.
Real estate players believe the flyover will change the area’s fortunes.
“Real estate will see a good surge in the coming days,” predicted Pradeep Jr Reddy, promoter of Realty Brook Private Limited, a venture of JR Estates.
Ankit Tyagi, COO of North India Sotheby’s International Realty, cited the development of Hong Kong’s international airport that led to real estate rush in the vicinity. minister KJ George is working on informing the people about actualities,” an official release quoted him as telling reporters in Mysuru.
The chief minister said Union minister DV Sadananda Gowda, who represents North Bengaluru, has been given details of it through a presentation. A similar exercise will be conducted with all MLAs representing Bengaluru, he said. PTI
“The niche segment of home buyers and property curators are definitely eyeing north Bengaluru for their future plans.”
But protesters aren’t convinced.
“We all know why this project is being taken up in such a hurry. The government should pay heed to the voices of people and consult experts for better alternatives to ease the situation,” said Vinay K Sreenivasa, a member of Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike that is against the flyover.
(Published in arrangement with GRIST Media)