KRDCL invites elevated corridor tender sans Cabinet nod

Just when it looked like the elevated corridor project was pushed to the backburner, with the cabinet asking the chief minister to decide, it has seen a dramatic revival.

The Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) is taking the project forward by inviting tenders. It has released advertisements to this effect.

KRDCL has broken the project into three packages on two, three, four and six lanes. The packages will be the north-south corridor from Baptist Hospital to JC Nagar, JC Nagar to Shantinagar and Shantinagar to Central Silk Board.

While the project’s total length is 96 km, tenders have been called for 22.22 km for three packages of 6.15 km, 8.75 km and 7.22 km. The tender bid is for a three-year project and 10-year maintenance period.

KRDCL officials said they were acting on government’s orders. Tenders have been called after the project report had been tabled before the government, they said.

Citizens and experts have raised serious objections. “How could they call for tenders when the project is not cleared by the cabinet and placed before people for opinions?” asked Ashish Verma, associate professor, Centre for Infrastructure Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning (Cistup), IISc.

“All projects should go through due procedures, including public consultation. The government is repeating the mistake it did on the steel flyover,” Verma added.

He said the KRDCL did not obtain environmental clearances for the project. Given its size, it should have been thoroughly studied. But the government is projecting the elevated corridor as the ultimate solution. It has failed to do a study or released a report on its feasibility in terms of the suburban railway, metro, BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) or other options.

Ironically, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara met citizens, experts and lawmakers over the past few weeks. He also assured that a public meeting would be held, while now it appears that the government is going ahead with the tender process.