Residents under the banner of the Varthur Nagarikara Hita Rakshana Vedike have petitioned Karnataka’s Chief Secretary to scrap the Rs 4.82 billion Varthur elevated corridor project, citing a lack of transparency, public consultation, and legal compliance. Calling the flyover plan “ill-conceived” and environmentally damaging, the Vedike said the project would waste taxpayer money, worsen traffic congestion, and derail long-term urban mobility planning. “This isn’t development—it’s destruction disguised as progress,” said Gangadhar B M, president of the Vedike. Approved by the state cabinet in 2022, the project proposes a 1.9-km extension to an existing 1.3-km elevated corridor. Locals argue the flyover will encourage more private vehicles and limit space for sustainable transit options like metro, suburban rail, or high-speed bus systems. The group also flagged violations of multiple laws, including the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, which requires public consultation and municipal approvals for major urban works. They said the detailed project report was prepared without citizen input, and no public hearings were conducted. More concerning, the proposed alignment reportedly cuts through a lake buffer zone—an ecologically sensitive area protected under a Karnataka High Court ruling. Residents fear this will worsen flooding, deplete groundwater, and raise urban heat levels. The Vedike further alleged the project bypassed the Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC), as mandated by the Nagarpalika Act, 1992, rendering the proposal “unconstitutional”. Arbitrary land acquisition and the absence of a social impact assessment have only added to public anger. The plan also involves large-scale tree felling, which activists say will worsen air quality and biodiversity loss in a city already reeling from environmental decline. “The High Court has ruled that such tree cutting cannot happen without public consultation,” the Vedike reminded. The group is now demanding a full stop on the project and has called for an independent urban mobility study by the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) to explore sustainable alternatives. They’re also urging the government to consult urban planners, environmental experts, and heritage bodies before moving forward.Image source: thehansindia