BMP’s challenge: Widen roads, save green cover

BMP’s challenge: Widen roads, save green cover
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: While the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) is said to be under pressure from the Traffic Department to immediately widen 12 City roads, the Greens in City are all set to submit a solution lessening the dent to city’s tree cover.

The widening of these roads has caused a major threat to trees. There are about 1,300 trees on the 12 roads to be widened.

Hasiru Usiru--an Eco organisation--has begun with the tree census on these roads. The census is over on Nrupatunga road and 76 trees have been identified on Nrupatunga road which has threat of felling. Another counting will begin on Sheshadripuram road. The team will also submit a detailed alternative traffic management solution in a bid to save the tree cover.

“We do not understand any logic in widening Nrupatunga road which is already wide and has a one-way traffic. Nearly 76 large trees are under BMP’s scanner here. The authorities need to emphasise on the solutions of traffic management which will in turn save the trees,” said R Sheshadri from Hasiru Usiru.

Another member Rohan D’Souza said that a thorough traffic management report will be submitted to the Commissioner of BMP. “We are working on the possibilities to divert the traffic from the present roads to ease the existing pressure on the roads,” he said.

“We will list out the suggestions and plan of action to the BMP. We have already had meetings with BMP officials and as per the High Court orders, the authorities should inform Hasiru Usiru before any tree felling,” he added.

Uddupudi Krishna, BMP Tree Officer, however, clarified that the BMP will not fell all the trees on the roads. “Only a pruning operation is in progress. We will thoroughly inspect the trees before felling,” he said.

Most the roads chosen for widening act as the lifeline of City, housing fully grown Rain Trees. Nrupatunga Road, Bellary Road, Palace Road, Seshadripuram Road, Hosur Road, Hosur-Luskar Road, Airport road, Race course road, Devang hospital road, Agaram raod, Cottonpet main road and KG Roads will be widened in the first phase and in next three years, 95 of the City roads are expected to be widened.