Metro threat to historic landscape

Metro threat to historic landscape

temporary parallel roads along the metro track will cut through the gardens of Vidhana Soudha and high court

Srikanth Hunasavadi, Bosky Khanna & Bhargavi Kerur. Bangalore

The state's political and legal hub, the Vidhana Soudha and the High Court, respectively, which has been on the terrorists' radar, is facing another threat. But this time, from the Metro Rail project.
The Bangalore Metro Railway Corporation Ltd's (BMRCL) plans to build an underground rail connection will impact the premises of both the establishments to make way for traffic movement for the next three years. The construction work for bypass roads will be completed before April 2009 (when Metro work begins). These roads will run over the beautiful parks attached to both the institutions, thus allowing easy entry for anyone into the gates.
"As of now we have not worked out any plans for the security of Vidhana Soudha or the High Court. We will do something after the roads are built inside," said additional commissioner of police (law & order) MR Pujar.
BMRCL and the traffic police have decided to close 270 metres of Ambedkar Veedhi from Gopal Gowda Circle to High Court via Vikasa Soudha and Vidhana Soudha.
This will eat up the green landscape to make way for commuters. Metro officials have obtained permission for work on underground segments from the cabinet for a period of 36 months.
Advocates to file plea
But the land where alternate roads will be laid is not safe as it is a wetland and can sink easily. Due to good vegetation and presence of good ground water, construction of tarred road will be difficult.
"We have informed the Metro officials about the the wetland. Despite that they have gone ahead to construct the road. We have given them permission to construct the road through the parks, on the condition that after three years they will hand over the park to the department in the same manner as it was before,'' said horticulture deputy director, Vasanth Kumar.
Advocates working at the high court fear that the court proceedings are likely to be affected by the new plan. The advocates may file a petition after the construction work begins. "The construction of temporary underground segment will disturb the court proceedings due to the honking and traffic movement," said NP Amrutesh, governing council member of Bangalore Advocates.