BENGALURU: The state government is determined to go ahead with the steel flyover at Shivananda Circle despite public protests.Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the people who had been protesting are misinformed. “They are saying we are cutting down trees, but there is no such proposal. If people start protesting at every development work, how can we progress? There is no question of stopping the work on steel flyover,” he said.
Reinforcing the same point, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George said, “It was not a big protest, but you people (media) made it look as it was very big. They are alleging that we are cutting down 40 trees for the flyover, but we never said so. They also want the railway underbridge to be widened and we had already discussed it before and it is being taken up. The issue will be taken up in the Cabinet soon. It will be helpful if they give us constructive ideas instead of protesting,” he said.
George said that citizens had to understand that the government was merely implementing the idea that was proposed in 2012, but no money was released for it until the present government decided to take it ahead in 2014.George was speaking to reporters after the CM chaired a review meeting on the city infrastructure including water, sewerage and transport.
George said that about `7,300 crore was sanctioned for works to be taken up over a period of two years. Of this, works costing `3,000 were completed. “Most projects are being completed on time and some of the projects have been delayed due to technical problems or tender-related issues,” he said.
The Chief Minister reviewed progress on underpasses, flyovers, TenderSURE roads, road-widening works, pavements, traffic, public transport and sewerage systems.
Officials from BMRCL informed CM that the DPR for the metro route from Nagawara to Kempegowda International Airport would be ready by August. The CM has sought a report on the progress of the metro route from KR Puram to Hebbal.