Flyover returns, ignoring protests

It was branded hyper-expensive, of dubious utility, unaesthetic and absolutely unnecessary. Urban mobility experts unanimously rejected it, but the monstrous, Rs 1,791-crore Chalukya Circle–Hebbal steel flyover is back with a firm ‘go-ahead’ seal of the state Cabinet.

Creaking, poorly designed, poorly executed flyovers across Bengaluru are proof enough that another questionable project will not decongest the roads. But in their hurry to get the flyover off ground, the state and BDA are in no mood to look at clinching evidences across the city.

Escalated cost
The project cost has escalated from Rs 1,100 crore to Rs. 1,350 crore to Rs. 1,791 crore without justifiable reason. By the government’s own admission, a total of 812 trees will have to be axed and several acres of heritage land acquired to make way for the flyover. 

Are these efforts, money and environmental costs justified for a project catering only to those heading to the airport in their personal cars? Absolutely not, says architects, transport specialists and commuters. Elevated roads only shift traffic congestion from one junction to another and this will be no exception.

Transport studies linked to airport commute has come out with a range of alternatives, far more sustainable and cheaper than the steel flyover. Widening Ballari Road using space already acquired from Palace Grounds is one. Upgrading the Hebbal flyover to ease the traffic bottleneck there is another.

Citizen petitions
But these alternatives have had no effect on the government. Frustrated by this total rejection of public and expert opinion, citizens have now come together to file public interest litigations and online petitions.

In one such petition, filed through the platform change.org, concerned citizens have called the project another instance of ad hoc planning. The petition questions the lack of details on how the flyover will integrate with the broader Master Plan for the city.

Instead of the expensive flyover, what Bengaluru needs is a comprehensive mobility plan with focus and large-scale investment in public transportation, the petition notes.

Private vehicle push
Here’s another stinging observation by the petition: “The steel flyover comes across as a strong signal from the government that they prefer to cater to the private sector instead of giving public transport a much-needed push.”

Beyond petitions, several prominent citizens and groups have teamed up to take protests against the flyover to the streets. As the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) prepares to formally lay the foundation stone, a human chain from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal will kick off a series of similar demonstrations.

The growing public anger against ill-conceived projects will find voice in an open letter to be addressed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Bengaluru Development Minister K J George.

Legal route
Taking the legal route, the Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF) has already filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court, challenging the project and the state’s unilateral decision to go ahead with it. The Foundation’s contention is this: The public were given barely a day to respond to the flyover proposal.

The reason for the hurry is obvious. For, if the citizens and subject experts were given more time, an informed public debate would have completely demolished the very idea of a steel flyover project.
Through multiple channels, both online and offline, civil engineers, architects and seasoned traffic experts have dubbed the project as highly unsustainable. Ashish Verman, Assistant Professor, Centre for infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning, IISc, has dubbed it a short-term solution that does not go beyond shifting the point of congestion.

Short-sighted solution
The steel flyover has been planned without a clear understanding of its implications on the current and future mobility within the city. Despite the government’s claims, the construction phase too will have a big impact on motorists, commuters and residents living in close proximity to the project.
Bengalureans are aware of the hardships they had to undergo before the city got its 28 flyovers, underpasses and overbridges.

As traffic expert M N Srihari points out, these projects did not ease traffic congestion. The explosive growth of personal vehicles meant all the flyovers would prove to be inadequate.

Maintenance issues
There are other structural maintenance issues with the steel flyover. BDA and BBMP, already struggling with concrete structures, do not have the scientific wherewithal and expertise to keep a steel flyover well-maintained.

For instance, due to constant vibrations, the nuts and bolts of the flyover would have to be frequently inspected and tightened. 

This only implies that the expensive-to-build steel flyover will also be costly to maintain. The same amount could have been spent on upgrading 250 inner city roads to global standards, as an urban architect put it.