In a robust present of civic engagement, the Varthur Nagarikara Hita Rakshana Vedike, a residents’ group in East Bengaluru, has submitted an in depth memorandum to Chief Secretary Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, IAS, opposing the proposed ₹488 crore flyover in Varthur.
Bengaluru residents additionally flagged critical environmental violations, stating that the flyover is deliberate throughout the buffer zone of Varthur Lake.(Particular association)
The group has as an alternative demanded a metro line connecting Jigani to Kadugodi Tree Park by way of Varthur, aligning with sustainable and future-ready mobility wants for the town’s rising japanese hall.
The memorandum raises a number of authorized, environmental, and planning considerations in regards to the 1.92-km-long, 60-feet-wide elevated hall that’s at present into account.
The civic group has alleged that the challenge has moved ahead with out necessary public session, transparency in value escalation, or compliance with authorized provisions underneath the Karnataka City & Nation Planning (KTCP) Act, 1961.
The price of the challenge, initially pegged at ₹187 crore, has reportedly jumped to ₹488 crore with no public clarification, the memorandum notes. “No Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been disclosed to the public, and the project has been kept opaque despite years of opposition since 2018,” as talked about within the letter addressed to Chief Secretary.
(Additionally Learn: Karnataka relaxes minimal age for Class 1 admission to five years and 5 months)
Residents flag critical violations
The group additionally flagged critical environmental violations, stating that the flyover is deliberate throughout the buffer zone of Varthur Lake, an motion that straight contravenes a Karnataka Excessive Court docket ruling, which prohibits development inside 30 meters of lake boundaries. The flyover, they argue, poses flood dangers, accelerates groundwater depletion, and contributes to Bengaluru’s worsening city warmth island impact.
Additional, the Vedike claims the flyover has bypassed evaluation by the Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC) and the State Finance Fee, each of that are constitutionally mandated to evaluate large-scale city infrastructure tasks. “This makes the project unconstitutional and legally unsustainable,” the memorandum asserts.
Of specific concern is the potential lack of the realm’s wealthy environmental and cultural heritage. The challenge reportedly threatens century-old bushes and the Sixteenth-century Channarayaswamy and Kashi Vishwanatha-swamy Temples in Varthur. “The Tree Council’s permission has not been sought, violating the High Court’s ruling, which mandates public consultation before cutting trees.”
As an alternative of car-centric infrastructure like flyovers, which they are saying can be saturated in a couple of years, the group has urged the state to prioritize mass transit choices. “Cities like Seoul, Madrid, and San Francisco are dismantling flyovers to make way for metro lines and pedestrian-friendly zones. Bengaluru should be planning ahead, not backwards,” the Vedike wrote.
The memorandum ends with six clear calls for, together with scrapping the flyover challenge, disclosing the total DPR and price justifications, defending native heritage, and commissioning an unbiased mobility research by the Directorate of City Land Transport (DULT).
The Vedike has additionally requested an pressing assembly with KRDCL officers and different related stakeholders to debate alternate options that align higher with Bengaluru’s long-term transport and environmental priorities.
(Additionally Learn: Karnataka governor reserves Muslim quota invoice for President’s assent, says ‘no religion-based quota underneath Structure’)