Deccan Chronicle       20.11.2010

Greens attack BBMP’s plans to widen roads

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.