JOIN USContinuing their social impact assessment along the planned alignment of the controversial elevated corridor project, volunteers from various citizen groups on Saturday assessed the stretch between Shanthinagar and Richmond Circle in Central Bengaluru.
As many as 30 volunteers in various groups collected data of trees that would pave way for the project, communities affected, properties and public infrastructure to be demolished.
The assessment revealed the project would require partial dismantling of the flyover and complete dismantling of a skywalk on the Double Road.
Goldie, a Shanthinagar resident, said: “There is no way I will let the government go ahead with this project. We cannot give up all that we have grown up with.”
The volunteers discovered that the traders and small shop owners along the corridor were apprehensive about frequent traffic snarls and loss of business. More than 50 trees on either side of the road will be axed as estimated by the volunteers.
Tara Krishnaswamy, co-founder of Citizens for Bengaluru (CfB), said: “As no social impact assessment was done by the government, as responsible citizens, all of us have been helping the government in realising the futility of the project.”
Shaheen Shasha, a volunteer, said three surveys have been completed so far. “We are hoping to consolidate enough data to make a case against the project,” Shasha clarified.
According to Srinivas Alavilli of CfB, elevated corridors are not the answer. “The government must focus on enhancing public transport. We are hopeful that the Chief Minister will consider our efforts, and expect participatory democracy to function at this stage,” Alavilli added.