Bengaluru’s administrative body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has decided to build a steel flyover. For this, the BBMP announced that it would have to cut down 112 trees on Jayamahal Main Road to widen the same.
Expecting a backlash from the city, the BBMP issued a public notice asking citizens to file any objections they might have against the cutting down of these trees.
The notice, issued by the assistant conservator of forests and tree officer of the BBMP, says that objections by “public, public institutions and people’s representatives for removal of the 112 trees … may be registered along with valid reason and supporting documents either through e-mail [email protected] or through phone (9480685381) within a period of 10 days.”
The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) recommended the building of the KJ George flyover in the area to ease traffic flow. The BDA has said this is being done to decrease traffic at Chalukya Circle and Race Course Road, both of which are notorious for their congestion.
The steel flyover project has been temporarily stayed by the National Green Tribunal, which reserved its final order in the last hearing.
The flyover’s future depends on the public’s comments. There are people who opine that it is necessary to control the traffic, while others argue that it is not worth decreasing the green cover of the city. The BBMP has stated on previous occasions that it would transplant all trees cut down due to road widening projects and ensure that they are grown in nearby parks or elsewhere.
Similar to this incident, last year thousands of Bengalureans came out to show their outrage against steel flyover that was supposed to cost about Rs 1,800 crores and 812 trees. Under Citizens Against Steel Flyover, a group of urban activists, scores of residents welfare associations and hundreds of individuals living in Bengaluru came out to form a human chain joining the two ends of the proposed project. They demanded the government to give up their plan to build the steel flyover and to focus on improving public transport with more trains and buses and safer footpaths.
If you are not in agreement with the proposal, you can reach out to the BBMP on the mail and phone number given above.
