By invitation: Dr G Parameshwara, the flyover approach is going nowhere
It is unfortunate and unbecoming of one of the senior most politicians of the state, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and Bengaluru Development Minister to make statements that sound like threats to citizens opposing elevated corridor project. We just celebrated our 70th Republic Day and the Constitution that proclaimed that people are supreme power. We expect higher standards of public discourse from elected representatives.
The fundamental job of any government is to reconcile differences of opinion and build consensus towards greater public good. We sincerely hope that the Minister demonstrates willingness to engage and evolve a sustainable plan for mobility which has been missing all these years, at least now, under his watch.
At the outset, let me be clear, we are not blindly opposed to flyovers or elevated corridors. Road infrastructure is indeed a key component of any city and must be given adequate priority. However, in the last 20 years, the only focus has been on road infrastructure; more than 50 flyovers have been built, hundreds of roads widened, made into one ways, long elevated corridors built to Electronic City and Airport. And yet, none of these things, built at the cost of thousands of crores, helped reduce traffic congestion. Indeed, the opposite has happened, year after year, traffic problem became bigger.
Pollution levels are increasing, doctors say respiratory diseases and steroid sales are on the rise, and air purifiers are now common sight in appliance shops. Clearly, the current approach has failed and we have to acknowledge it. We are on the verge of becoming another Delhi and we have to confront this possibility head on and take strong actions before it is too late.
CfB has been asking for a long term sustainable mobility plan that results in a livable city for all with clean air. We believe budget investments should be made in transport solutions that can be used by all sections of our society not those that own private vehicles. We don't want our children to stay home on some days due to bad air quality. That day is not far away if things don't change. Our public campaigns #ChukuBukuBeku, #BusBhagya Beku, #ModaluTrainBeku were all about strengthening public transport, first and foremost. Not because we don't like roads and flyovers because we already did it and it hasn't been working for us. Year after year, the traffic congestion has been increasing even after building so many flyovers and elevated corridors. Therefore, we believe, something must change, if we are serious about fixing the problem.
Bengaluru perhaps is the only city in the world, which does not prioritize public transport and keeps on investing in expensive flyovers. Here are the facts: Nearly 100 years after Mumbai and Chennai started suburban train services, Bengaluru still does not have one. Ten years after the new airport opened, there is still no metro or train to get there even though the railway line passes by. While the city is getting choked with 75 lakh cars and 2-wheelers, there are hardly 6500 buses, that number remained same in the last five years! BMTC official records state 45 lakh passengers use bus every day.
Namma Metro was and is our great hope, but even after 11 years, we just have 42kms built (with tremendous public response, indicating the hunger for public transport) - it is unpardonable that the metro tenders got canceled for the most congested route in town, the Outer Ring Road and it is not clear when it will happen! It looks like some Metro routes are being sacrificed for elevated corridor! How is it that government after government makes the same kind of decisions that produce same results? What is the reason?
Bengaluru is the most dynamic city in the world, attracts top talent and investment because of the amazing climate and gorgeous tree cover but we are losing it at an alarming rate. Our winters and summers are no longer what they were just a few years ago. Chopping another 4000 trees for an elevated corridor, which promotes more car usage, is a major decision that cannot be made on a whim. This is the backdrop of our opposition to elevated corridor.
It is not 'development' to spend Rs 35,000 crores of public money on a project without exploring all available alternatives, creating a practical long term plan that includes all forms of transport. Even if elevated corridor is a viable solution, it needs to wait until metro construction is done and suburban train becomes a reality. The city just cannot handle yet another 100kms of construction sites while metro construction is already underway. This is why the law calls for public consultation. It is the due process that those in government must not side step before such major projects are undertaken.
At the end of the day, all of us, citizens, politicians, officials, live here, breathe the same air and are immensely proud of nammooru. Our humble appeal to the Deputy Chief Minister : #JanaraMaatuKeLi you promised us public consultation and said the process will be transparent.
The writer is co-founder, Citizens for Bengaluru
