The Karnataka High Court on Monday directed the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to stop work on the 9.7-km Sirsi Circle-Agara signal-free corridor project until further orders.
The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B.V. Nagarathna, passed the interim order on a petition filed by the Citizen's Action Forum and residents' welfare associations complaining that work on the project has commenced only at Koramangala area when the feasibility study and detailed project report (DPR) are incomplete. The court will hear the petition again on March 6.
Work resumes suddenly
The petitioners complained that the despite the Chief Minister's assurance at a recent meeting that the work would be halted, construction of underpasses and flyovers on the Sarjapur Road-St. John's Road junction-Koramangala 100 ft Road junction; Sarjapur Road-Madiwala Road junction; Koramangala 80 ft Road junction and Jakkasandra junction were resumed suddenly on February 20.
Petitioners' counsel Sajan Poovayya pointed out to the Bench that the BDA officials informed the petitioners that the BDA had not authorised the contractors to start the work following a decision taken in the meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, while indicating that the contractors seem to be more keen on implementing the work without authorisation.
The beneficiaries
Contending that the Rs. 119-crore project would only benefit builders and developers, Mr. Poovayya said that no proper and scientific traffic study has been conducted. Moreover, there were differences between two studies conducted by the authorities. It was pointed out that an elevated road would be a solution instead of the present plan, and that the need of the hour is to provide a proper link from Koramangala to the signal-free outer ring road.
Meanwhile, the petitioners have sought directions to the authorities to conduct detailed study and prepare a comprehensive report on future prospects of traffic before undertaking any such road infrastructure project in the city besides providing space for bus bays and shelters, bicycle lanes keeping the growth for the next 10 years in view. Other submissions included conducting environmental impact assessment, consulting all stakeholders, including residents' welfare associations, on such projects right from the stage of planning and design, and total transparency regarding infrastructure development projects.
