'Junk elevated corridor, invest 33K cr in transport'

Citizens wrote postcards to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, questioning the logic behind the plan to hike bus fares citing fund crunch “while spending Rs 33,000 crore to build the elevated corridor”.

The campaign organised by Bengaluru Bus Prayaanikara Vedike saw the participation of commuters and several groups on Wednesday.

Vinay Sreenivasa, of the Vedike, said: “The government is investing an obscene amount of money to build elevated corridors in the city. If a portion of that amount is utilised to make the bus system better, the entire public transport system across the state can be made world-class.”

He said the campaign aims to press for cutting the bus fare and funding public transport.

The postcards were issued to commuters who participated in the campaign. Their message to the chief minister was clear: invest Rs 33,000 crore to improve public transport but not on elevated corridors. The cards were addressed to the chief minister’s office in Vidhana Soudha.

Members of the forum spoke against the poor planning that has led to problems in managing transport requirements in Bengaluru.

Prof U Ramdas Rao said: “The chief minister must not increase bus fares without public consultation. Unless the government makes serious efforts to reduce the fares, the city is going to see worse traffic congestion, more pollution and will become a city only for the elite.”

Amudha, a regular commuter, said: “I work for a company in Shivajinagar. It is very difficult for me to travel from Doddagubbi to Shivajinagar every day. They do not maintain proper timings and buses will be packed during peak hours.”

Garment and Textile Workers’ Union, Bengaluru Zilla Beedhi Vyapari Sanghatanegala Okkuta, Slum Janara Sanghatane, BBMP Guttige Pourakarmikara Sangha and Domestic Workers’ Rights Union, along with Citizens for Bengaluru took part in the campaign.