BENGALURU: The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) has expressed serious concerns regarding the proposed steel flyover from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal and has demanded that the state government reassess and drop the project.
Members of IIA expressed apprehension about expenditure of public funds close to `1,800 crore and the impact on the environment with loss of over 800 trees to build the flyover. Further, they fear it will destroy the aesthetic feel of the significant portion of the central zone.
Speaking to reporters, Anthony S J, vice-chairman of IIA said, “The government has to understand that the steel flyover will only shift the traffic from Hebbal to other regions.”
He added, “Instead of investing crores on a single flyover, the government can instead explore the option of improving public transport which can carry large number of people at a time.”
Voicing similar opinion, T S Subbaiah, secretary of IIA, said, “Given the immense impact of the flyover, if the project is considered, it should have received significant validation and justification from proper planning and democratic procedures which definitely has not happened in this case. The proposed flyover is not validated by any master plan or any other broader transit policy on how to manage people’s movement in the city.”