Elevated corridor to go steel flyover way, hints govt

Conceived to ease traffic across Bengaluru, the state government’s ambitious elevated corridor project seems to be going the steel flyover way. Even before the project can take wing, the government has hinted at dropping the project citing citizens’ backlash.

Acknowledging widespread resentment against the project, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday categorically stated that if people do not want the project, the government will shelve it. Addressing reporters after a high-level discussion on the project, Kumaraswamy said, “We came up with the project to help people and decongest Bengaluru city. But if people are happy with the traffic snarls and like to live with them, let them. The government will shelve the project.”

Kumaraswamy was reportedly agitated that people were opposing the project similar to the steel flyover that was proposed by the previous government from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal flyover. Asserting that it was only a preliminary meet to discuss the feasibility with officials, ministers and experts, the chief minister said, “We are exploring all possibilities and consulting experts to give the project a proper shape. The government is keen to include Metro, high-speed rail, Monorail, flyover and BMTC as part of the 95-km elevated corridor.”

Agreeing that the project was previously shelved, Kumaraswamy clarified that his government is only trying to give it life considering the traffic situation. Fuming over a question about the presence of PWD Minister H D Revanna at the meeting, the chief minister said, “Revanna is not hijacking the city’s development. As the project is being executed by the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd under the PWD, Revanna is also part of the project and hence he was present at the meeting.”

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, Forest Minister R Shankar, Chief Secretary T M Vijaya Bhaskar, additional chief secretary Urban Development Department, Mahendra Jain, BDA commissioner Rakesh Singh, Bescom MD Rajendra Cholan and financial adviser to the chief minister Subramanya.