JOIN USMore than 250 buildings will be demolished while roads repaired under the ambitious white-topping project of the BBMP will become history if the elevated corridor project from Shantinagar to Central Silk Board (7.22 km) goes ahead, according to a citizen-led Social Impact Assessment report.
The citizen volunteers’ team comprising activists from Bus Prayanikara Vedike, Citizens for Bengaluru, The Student Outpost and Bengaluru Suddi on Tuesday carried out the second phase of the social Impact assessment survey, with the group covering the stretch between Shantinagar to Bannerghatta Road on foot due to a shortage of volunteers.
According to the findings, the maximum impact will be seen on the BTS Main Road in Shanthinagar. “The road has a width of 12 metres and it will accommodate the elevated corridor with a width of 19 metres. This means properties on both the sides of the road will be acquired,” the report said.
Owners in dark
Surprisingly, none of the property owners who were visited by the volunteers knew that their buildings would come in the way of the project.
“Several properties were already marked with yellow paint and owners were clueless about the marking,” a volunteer who was part of the assessment said.
“Shockingly, the road on which the elevated corridor will be built is currently witnessing white-topping work by the BBMP spending crores of rupees. Executing the elevated corridor, the road has to be dug up.”
Violation of rules
A few pillars of the elevated corridor will fall inside the adjacent rajakaluve, thereby violating the NGT and Karnataka High Court orders. The team also mapped about 274 trees along the route, which in all likelihood will be chopped for the project.
“The trees have not been exactly mapped as the focus was on identifying the buildings that come in the way of the project. A special study will be undertaken to map the trees that might be axed for the project,” the association volunteers said.
Determined to continue with their social impact assessment, volunteers and organizations will conduct the next phase of assessment on May 18. After the final phase, the assessment details of all the phases will be documented and submitted to the state government for consideration, according to office bearers of the different groups.