JOIN USMinister, local legislators kept in the dark
Urban Development Minister S Suresh Kumar was kept in the dark about this project for the sole reason that his portfolio does not include BBMP, BDA and BMRDA.
Apart from them, a former mayor and the former counsellors of Basavanagudi and surrounding areas were also not aware of the project.
Irked about being ignored by the BBMP, Chickpet MLA Dr D Hemachandra Sagar shot letters to Transport Minister R Ashok, Urban Development Minister S Suresh Kumar and BBMP Commissioner Bharatlal Meena. In the letter, the MLA expressed his displeasure about not being informed about the grade separator work.
Sagar alleged that even in the past the BBMP showed haste in constructing the National College flyover, which is not utilised to its complete extent now. “Tax payers’ money should be spent on proper projects instead of those, which are opposed by the residents,” he said and added if the Palike was anxious to spend public money then it should think of constructing small shops for the economically weaker people doing their business on the pavements at Gandhi Bazaar.
Basavanagudi MLA Ravi Subramanya too had the same grouse that his opinion was not sought before carrying out the work. “The place where the work is going on is not a part of my constituency. Yet, that place where the underpass is coming up is identified as Basavanagudi. People from my constituency use it the most and they may have problem with this underpass. What hurts me was that I was also not consulted,” said Ravi Subramanya.
Former counsellor Satyanarayana too was angry that people’s view was not sought before starting the work. “Just because officials believe that this project is essential, it should not be undertaken unilaterally. People’s view must be taken,” Sathyanarayana said.
The public representatives were enraged that the contractor worked day and night and disturbed the tranquil nights at K R Puram by using JCB to dig the entire stretch from Tagore Circle to Basavanagudi police station.