Residents bid adieu to Sankey trees

Demand that Palike involve citizens in monitoring the project

But what they are not ready to say goodbye to is the project  being executed by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

After completing the one-hour walk from 8.30 to 9.30 am, the residents demanded that the BBMP share with them the detailed project report, the various milestones it has set for the project, and involve citizens in the monitoring progress of the project.

“The court has ruled that the widening of the road is in the interest of the public and we, as citizens, accept the court’s verdict. But why is the Palike taking up this project, which has been in the pipeline since 1984, only now?” one of the residents asked.

Accusing the Palike of not involving the citizens while deciding on projects, Meenakshi Bharath, one of the residents, sought to know whether the project was absolutely required for the the City and its residents.

She alleged that the Palike is catering only to the rich by widening these roads. “Bowing to the need of motorists, the Palike is completely ignoring the equitable requirements of pedestrians,” she said.

Citizens comfort ignored

“A six-lane signal free road will make it impossible for the pedestrians to cross. Many citizens, especially senior citizens, use the Sankey Park for walking. This will compromise the health of the people of this area,” another citizen claimed.

The Palike, already in a cash crunch, has borrowed Rs 1,000 crore from the government only last week.  “...Then why take up such an expensive project (Rs 100 crore) for road expansion,” Bharath quipped.

“Instead, the Palike must look at reducing traffic congestion and facilitating the various modes of non-motorised transport like walking and cycling,” a GoGreen volunteer said, adding that cities around the world are learning from their mistakes and here we want to repeat the mistakes.