bengaluru bangalore steel flyover project trees axe 812 cost crore congress bjp harish bijoor citizens activists bcic
People form a 4.6 km long human chain to protest against construction of steel flyover in Bengaluru, on Oct 16, 2016.IANS

Bengaluru's industry body — Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce — joined the chorus that has called for cancellation of the proposed steel flyover in the city as it perceived as an ill-conceived move to decongest traffic. Besides the huge cost of over Rs 1,700 crore, the project will end up in 800 trees being chopped to make way for the 6.5 km, steel bridge. 

The Karnataka government has already accorded the project that will be executed by engineering and construction company Larsen and Toubro Ltd (L&T) along with Nagarjuna Ltd.

Read: Bengaluru citizens move HC against steel flyover that could cost 812 trees

"Going by the serious reservations expressed not only by political parties and experts but also by the general masses, we at BCIC feel that the State Government should seriously reconsider the details of the projects by either going in for construction of smaller flyovers connecting the existing underpasses and flyovers, or scouting for alternative routes," Thyagu Valliappa, President, BCIC said in a statement. 

"This way the government will not only be able to save the green cover which will get uprooted but also utilise tax payers' money for other projects which need immediate attention," he added. 

The proposed project has been witnessing strong opposition from various activists and groups in the city, in addition to prominent individuals who feel that such expensive projects are not the solution to the city's perennial traffic woes.

The opposition to the project is getting support from political parties such as the BJP and the JD(S) that are against the Congress government's Rs 1,791-crore infra push to address traffic problems in the city.

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