BENGALURU: The National Green Tribunal’s decision to extend the stay on construction of proposed steel flyover till January 18 while allowing BDA to carry out soil sampling and surveys for the project has evoked mixed reactions in the city.
While the government, which is firm on going ahead with the steel flyover from Basaveshwara circle and Hebbal, is all set to conduct soil sampling tests, activists opposing the project said the construction cannot start without the NGT’s permission.
“We will complete the soil sampling tests soon to facilitate work on the proposed flyover. We hope that NGT will soon vacate the stay. This is a much-needed project as it will ease traffic on Airport road. A section of activists are unnecessarily creating controversy and the project is being executed after consultation with citizens,” said a BDA official.
“The NGT again reaffirms the people’s stand that the steel flyover is a violation of environmental laws and cannot pass legal muster. The state government and BDA have not been permitted any action towards construction of the steel flyover or cutting of trees,” said Srinivas Alavilli of Citizens for Bengaluru, a group which is campaigning against the project.
“We also request that the government focus its energies on mass public transport like local trains respecting the overwhelming public demand for such a service. This would be the best New Year’s gift to the citizens of Bengaluru,” he added.
The `1,761-crore BDA project is to construct a 6.72- km-long, six-lane steel flyover between Basaveshwara Circle and Hebbal, but it has run into rough weather as it involved felling of over 800 trees.