A 2-kilometre long boulevard, a lifeline for residents of Jayanagar 8th Block, is under threat during construction of the second phase of Namma Metro. With the failure of efforts to convince BMRCL to consider other options for the line connecting R.V. Road to Electronics City, residents are planning to strengthen their protest by roping in local celebrities and political leaders. They are also considering moving the Karnataka High Court.
“We will take a delegation to the Chief Minister and also ask the Member of Parliament for our constituency to raise the issue with the Central government,” said Y.K. Muddukrishna, president of social activist group, Samanvaya Vedike, at a meeting convened on Saturday.
At a recent public meeting, BMRCL had shared its plans, which involve installing piers for its viaduct through parts of Lakshman Rau Boulevard. During this meeting as well, residents had vehemently opposed these plans.
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“To begin with, the Metro Phase II alignment was not included in the Comprehensive Development Plan 2015, which is no longer valid. We are insisting that till the time a new CDP is formed, they should not begin work,” said Vinay Sreenivasa, a resident of Jayanagar.
Residents are worried that construction in the park will lead to the space below the viaduct being used as parking spots or for commercial development. Besides these, the loss of green cover, which has been a part of Jayanagar for decades, is also worrying.
“I have tried to call BMRCL officials for consultations several times but they have not listened to us at all. We have now decided to get the residents together and protest against the alignment,” said B.N. Vijayakumar, MLA, Jayanagar Assembly constituency.
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BMRCL officials said that there was no concrete decision yet on the fate of the park. “Nothing has been finalised,” said BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola.