NGOs plan debate on road widening

NGOs plan debate on road widening
Bangalore, DHNS:
Even as the City's stakeholders get ready to discuss issues related to widening roads to ease the traffic bot tlenecks, a group of NGOs is set to host a public debate on the impact of the move...


‘Environment Support Group’, ‘CIVIC Bangalore’ and ‘Alternative Law Forum’ will organise the public consultation on various road-widening schemes on December 20 at the Senate Hall, Central College.

The consultation will focus on recent plans by BBMP to undertake a major road widening scheme to accommodate the burgeoning traffic. It will cover concerns over the impact of the plan, including the felling of trees, impeding pedestrians’ rights and impact on pavement vendors.

The NGOs met the Chief Secretary P B Mahishi in October, seeking a more public and transparent process of decision-making with regard to the issue.

A larger discussion with the Bangalore Metropolitan Land Transportation Authority (BMLTA) followed in November. According to the NGOs, the meeting failed to evolve concrete decisions, while debating on various globally tested traffic management methods. Public consultation is part of the groups’ initiative to disseminate more information on the scheme to the public and have them deliberate on its impact.

The programme will have two segments: display of road-widening scheme drawings (4 pm to 5 pm) and discussion on the scheme (5 pm to 7 pm).

The Chief Secretary and members of the BMLTA are expected to participate in the consultation.For details, call 22441977