Bengaluru: Citizens for Bengaluru (CfB), the umbrella organisation spearheading the protest against the controversial steel flyover on Saturday objected to the comments made by Bengaluru Development Minister K. J. George that those who own private jets are the ones opposing steel flyover.
They also demanded that the state government should withdraw its cases in the High Court and National Green Tribunal on the project.
Addressing media persons, CfB founder member Srinivas Alavalli said, “We are appalled by Mr George’s recent statement. The statement reflects disdain for the concern of lakhs of citizens who love Bengaluru, and have emphatically rejected the steel flyover plan through various agitations and numerous articles and posts in print and social media. The minister's attitude is flippant and callous.”
He further went on to say that a huge majority of Bengaluru’s 1.2 crore citizens, who daily suffer the traffic congestion and air pollution, is convinced that projects like steel flyover only benefit car owners and VIPs. The solution lies in providing affordable and easily accessible mass transport system.
He however, welcomed the state government's move to bring suburban train to Bengaluru. Alavalli said, “We appreciate the initiative and also welcome the news about plans to make alternative roads to the airport. Since the railway line is practically next to the airport trumpet, we call for a trumpet halt station, similar to Hoodi halt.” Availability of trains and alternative roads to the airport eliminates any need for this hideous and expensive steel flyover, he added.
He demanded that the government should immediately withdraw from all the cases in NGT and HC, instead of wasting public money fighting for an unwanted project.
Will reject Revised City master plan: CfB
Members of CfB said they were rejecting the RMP 2031 as it had bypassed the Bengaluru Metropolitan Planning Committee and fixed a population projection in excess of two crores, which is against the logic on the ground.
The government should take serious note that in every public consultation held on RMP 2031, citizens have expressed their disappointment and all past master plans, Alavalli said. “We believe BDA must not be entrusted with planning and RMP must be developed by BMPC with a bottom up approach that brings citizens, especially the least privileged, civic groups and experts into the planning process right from the beginning and not at the end,” he said.
