BENGALURU: With the issue of the steel flyover project reaching the National Green Tribunal, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George on Wednesday said the government is ready to give out all the details of the project as sought by the court and citizens.
On allegations of corruption made by the BJP, he said that if the Central government wants to take over the project and can implement it with a budget of `1,350 crore, it is welcome to do so.
However, the project has to be implemented as per the detailed project report (DPR) without any compromise to the quality, the minister added.
“Our only intention is to ease the traffic mess on the route. If the Centre wants to take the responsibility of implementing the project, we have no objection,” George said.
“We have maintained transparency and have not hidden any information relating to the steel flyover project. There are a few people who are spreading misinformation about the project.”
Recalling that the steel flyover was a project first proposed and conceived by the BJP government, George said, “The BJP is jealous that they couldn’t take up the project. Since we have taken it up, they are now opposing their own project.”
When asked about the cost escalation of the project, the minister said, “The cost escalation was according to the transparency act. Besides, this is not the only project the government will take up to reduce the traffic density. We are exploring all options to reduce the traffic, which include the suburban train, development of peripheral ring road, building 120 km elevated corridor and exploring alternative roads to KIAL.”
Reacting to George’s statements, Srinivas Alavalli of Citizens for Bengaluru, said, “We are happy that George has agreed to make details of the project available. But having said that we want to say that the steel flyover project was doomed from the very day of its inception and we request him to scrap the tender. We would also like to have a consultation with citizens and experts to decide the mobility plan for the city thereafter.”
The proposed steel flyover project from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal is facing stiff opposition from citizens and activists because of it’s exorbitant cost.
The state government also plans to axe 812 trees for the proposed steel flyover project.