Bengaluru: Hundreds of residents from North Bengaluru on Sunday staged a dharna near Esteem Mall near Hebbal Flyover demanding the state government not to cancel the proposal to construct the steel flyover between Basaveswara Circle and Esteem Mall.
The residents were seen holding placards demanding the state government to go ahead with the proposed steel flyover project. They carried the placards stating – We are for Development. What about you? Flyover Beku for Better Bengaluru, People’s voice No to Politics, etc. They said the steel flyover is the need of the hour since the density of traffic has been increased on Ballari Road (Airport Road). They said that commuting has become a Heculean Task due to the traffic jams on this road. They demanded the government not to heed or succumb to the pressure of so-called intellectuals who have been opposing the construction of steel flyover without knowing the actual problems of people living in North Bengaluru.
“We are not particular about steel flyover but a solution to the perennial traffic problem on this busy road. By cancelling the steel flyover project, the government is not going to solve the traffic issues. We have to start from our homes two hours in advance to come to the city due to traffic congestion on this road. Political parties are indulging in blaming each other without bothering to find a solution to traffic problems,’’ said H M Venkatesh, a social worker and resident of Judicial Layout.
The residents demanded the state government to start construction of cement flyover or commence metro work to ease out traffic woes on this road. “This road is notorious for air pollution due to the density of vehicles. The commuters and motorists are prone to health problems due to the pollution. We demand the state government to take suitable measures to mitigate traffic problems on this road. The steel flyover project was conceived seven years ago when BJP was in power. Now the government has come forward to implement but has to cancel due to pressure from various people. Again it will take another six years for the government to prepare an alternative plan to fix the traffic problems. The government should not have cancelled the project without having an alternative plan,’’ B M Devarajappa, president, Karnataka Abhivruddi Mattu Anustana Samiti.
