Deccan Chronicle 20.11.2010
Greens attack BBMP’s plans to widen roads
November 20th, 2010
DC Correspondent
Bengaluru, Nov. 19: Green activists in the city on Friday
accused BBMP of high-handedness while carrying out road-widening
projects.
Hasiru Usiru member Vinay Srinivas said, “The widening
work on Bellary Road (from Mekhri Circle to Cauvery theatre) and
Jayamahal Main Road (from Mekhri Circle to Cantonment junction) have
already begun, but without any public consultation or impact assessment.
BBMP has not even worked out any alternative solution.”
“Widening the road will not help reduce congestion as the
number of vehicles will definitely multiple every year. It will only
make the life of pedestrians more miserable as they will it find quite
difficult to cross wider roads.
“The widening work is set to take a toll on the greenery
also. Around 856 trees, several of which are decades old, will have to
be felled to widen the roads,” he said. In a move to minimise the
damage, residents of the affected areas along with several NGOs are
organising a meeting at Raman Research Hall near Mekhri Circle. H.
Ravindra, chairman of BBMP standing committee for Major Works, has
reportedly agreed to attend the meet.