The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday cleared the decks for resuming construction of underpasses and flyovers on the proposed 8.5-km signal-free corridor from Sirsi Circle to Agara Lake via Lalbagh Fort Road.
With the HC lifting the stay it had granted on February 27, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) can now continue the construction of four underpasses and a flyover at four junctions — Sarjapur Road to Madivala Road, St John’s Hospital Road to Koramangala 100 Feet Road, Koramangala 80 Feet Road, and Jakkasandra — located along the corridor.
A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna, issued the orders on Wednesday on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Citizens’ Action Forum.
The petitioners had contended that the feasibility study for the proposed corridor was not completed even five months after tenders were floated. A technical committee of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) decided on December 12, 2009 to convert 12 high-traffic density corridors into signal-free stretches. The BBMP had handed over the project to the BDA because of fund crunch.
The petitioners also argued that at least 88 trees, many of them old rain trees with green canopies, would be chopped off to make way for the corridor. Neither was any scientific study carried out before taking up construction nor were any notices served to the local residents, they alleged. Besides, no objections were sought from the residents, causing them great hardships.
The court had stayed the construction, observing that no contract was awarded to any firm. The BDA, however, informed the court on Wednesday that NCC Limited has been awarded the contract. The BDA counsel also submitted that the construction of the underpasses and the flyover was started with interests of the public in mind.
With the HC lifting the stay it had granted on February 27, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) can now continue the construction of four underpasses and a flyover at four junctions — Sarjapur Road to Madivala Road, St John’s Hospital Road to Koramangala 100 Feet Road, Koramangala 80 Feet Road, and Jakkasandra — located along the corridor.
A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna, issued the orders on Wednesday on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Citizens’ Action Forum.
The petitioners had contended that the feasibility study for the proposed corridor was not completed even five months after tenders were floated. A technical committee of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) decided on December 12, 2009 to convert 12 high-traffic density corridors into signal-free stretches. The BBMP had handed over the project to the BDA because of fund crunch.
The petitioners also argued that at least 88 trees, many of them old rain trees with green canopies, would be chopped off to make way for the corridor. Neither was any scientific study carried out before taking up construction nor were any notices served to the local residents, they alleged. Besides, no objections were sought from the residents, causing them great hardships.
The court had stayed the construction, observing that no contract was awarded to any firm. The BDA, however, informed the court on Wednesday that NCC Limited has been awarded the contract. The BDA counsel also submitted that the construction of the underpasses and the flyover was started with interests of the public in mind.
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