Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrashekhar has termed the steel flyover from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal flyover as a money-making project for Assembly elections to be held two years from now.
“We as citizens see more of these ad-hoc projects being pushed through closer to elections. The political class will make sure more such project ideas suddenly come up and rush them through to make political money,’’ he told Deccan Herald.
“These are neither citizen-driven nor plan-driven projects. These are purely contractor and politically driven,’’ he said.
Chandrashehkhar is determined to take the issue to court if the government fails to make the project transparent and seeks public consultation.
“In Karnataka, justice for people comes from the court. Siddaramaiah government didn’t do anything. Siddaramaiah govt did it only after a slap from the court,’’ he pointed.
Chandrashekhar said the flyover was illegal at least on two counts - that the project is not placed before the constitutionally set up Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC). Secondly, there is no public consultation and no impact assessment.
“If it was pro-citizen, why is the CM and the BDA not taking this to citizens? Are they now deciding they are smarter than citizens?’’ he asked.
There is no big blueprint to solve city’s mobility issues. “Why this hurry? Suddenly, why are you trying to solve the traffic problem when there is no such concern to clear the garbage issue?’’ the MP questioned.
“The loot of the city should stop. Public money is being spent. On the one hand, the government says there is no money, I get the money from the Central government for the Bellandur lake, but you are willing to spend it on flyover that has no consultation, no impact study,’’ he asks.