BENGALURU: The state government seems to be firm on going ahead with the proposed steel bridge project on Harekrishna Road at Shivananda Circle in city. On October 31, Additional Chief Secretary to the Urban Development Department, Mahendra Jain, passed an order rejecting a representation submitted by local residents against the project. This was placed before the High Court on Thursday.
In the order, Jain stated that the city needs more infrastructure, and not less, to address the burning issue of traffic congestion in all its forms. This is being done by investing in public transport with increased allocation for Metro and BMTC, by earmarking priority lanes for buses, facilitation of non-motorised transport through provision of bicycle lanes, improvement of footpaths, public bicycle sharing, pedestrian crossings, skywalks, etc., and also improving the condition of roads and decongesting busy roads and junctions by building flyovers, widening roads, etc., wherever necessary.
“If every development project is resisted by some people, there is a real danger that the city will lag behind in keeping pace with the increasing population, both of people and vehicles. The competitive advantages of city may be lost irretrievably. The greater good of people at large has to prevail over inconvenience to a few, failing which the condition will only worsen. I am, therefore, convinced that the case of the petitioners is not strong, either on technical grounds or on procedural/approval grounds, or on pragmatic considerations to drop the project”, Jain said in the order.
The steel bridge at Shivananda Circle is therefore necessary as it will help in streamlining traffic, reduce congestion and pollution and also reduce the risk of accident, he said.A group of local residents had filed public interest litigation in the high court against the project. While disposing of the petition, the court had directed them to make a representation to the government regarding the project.
