Protests intensify as tree felling for Old Airport Road signal-free corridor continues

Public anger at the felling of decades-old trees on Old Airport Road intensified with citizens and green activists holding a demonstration at the Suranjan Das Road junction on Sunday morning.

Holding aloft ‘Save Tree’ slogans, they collectively sought an immediate halt to the axing.

Armed with the go-ahead from the Tree Experts Committee, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is on a drive to remove 23 trees at the junction. Ten trees, all fully grown and over 50 years old, were felled last weekend in an operation designed to make way for a subway at the ‘T’ Junction.

The subway is part of the Old Airport Road signal-free corridor that will help motorists breeze through without waiting at junctions. Three years ago, over 40 trees were axed for another underpass at the Wind Tunnel Road
junction.

Among those passionately shouting slogans against the wanton destruction of the trees was Kavitha, a resident of the nearby Annasandrapalya. "I have been living in this area for 36 years. It is very saddening to see trees that were part of your life being felled this way. There used to be so much shade here. What are we doing to our younger generation?”

For Madhu Menon, a resident of Vinayakanagar for the last two decades, the tree axing was bound to increase the heat, just like it did in Indiranagar when trees were felled for the metro line. “We were not aware that the signal-free corridor project will end up cutting so many trees.”

One year ago, he recalled, the residents had vociferously protested against the tree-felling at the same site.

“That time, we were assured that the trees will not be removed and alternative ways would be found to accommodate the underpass. But now, they have cut down the trees without public knowledge,” Menon pointed out.

'Involve citizens'

Local resident Vinod John questioned the need for a subway at a ‘T’ Junction.

“We are trying to save at least the remaining trees. The underpass will actually reduce the carriageway. The government should ensure public consultation at the spot.

"Trees are now being cut at Sivananda Circle, Bannerghatta Road, etc without this process. They have to do a ground evaluation and involve citizens,” he said.