Chikka Lalbagh loses 83 trees to the metro project

Chikka Lalbagh loses 83 trees to the metro project

Of these, only 18 were ornamental plants while the rest were flowering plants

Senthalir S. Bangalore

With the work of the Bangalore Metro Rail project picking up speed, a major portion of Chikka Lalbagh, located near Majestic, has been taken for the underground station work.
While at least three-fourth of the park area will be taken up for the metro work on a temporary basis, the permanent acquisition for metro will be one-forth of the park area. The staircase for the exit and entry would come up here.
"This won't require much area," said a senior official from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). He added that the park area would be restored once the metro work is completed. The official added that temporarily BMRCL is taking 3,800 sq m for the underground work. But only 1304 sq m would be the permanent acquisition.
However despite this, the park has lost a considerable portion of its green cover. The Chikka Lalbagh, which is also called Thulasi Thota, has lost at least 83 trees for the Metro work. "There are 239 trees including the ornamental trees in the park area. Out of 83 trees which have chopped for metro work, only 18 are ornamental trees and the rest are flowering plants like Gulmohar, Tabuvia and Stabuhodia," said an official with the Park Department.
He added that predominantly there are five varieties of trees here.
When contacted, MB Venkatesh, tree officer with Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), said that many trees cut for metro work are mature, including the flowering plants. Hence, it could not be transplanted. Once the metro work is completed, the BMRCL has promised to restore the park area.
The preliminary work has already begun. The tunnelling along the underground section alignment will start by next March. The 8.8km underground section of Metro includes six stations measuring approximately 300 metres in length. There will be twin tunnels allowing trains to ply in opposite directions.