'Road widening is a sham'

'Road widening is a sham'

Sharan Poovanna
Express News Service
First Published : 25 Jul 2010 04:39:58 AM IST
Last Updated : 25 Jul 2010 08:55:25 AM IST

BANGALORE: Is it that only narrow roads in the city have been shortlisted for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike's road widening project? Not really.

Seshadri Road, which leads to KR Circle, is arguably one of the wider roads in the city. Vehicles ply with ease on this stretch. However, the BBMP has shortlisted even this road for widening. Seshadri Road houses the iconic Freedom Park and is also the official address of top railway officers.

"This road will lose space for no apparent reason," said Arun, a civil court lawyer.

He labelled road widening a sham. He alleged a nexus between the contractors and engineers. He said such projects might give them short-term profits, but the city and its residents would suffer in the long run due to the loss of green cover and property.

M Gopi, councillor of Sampangiramanagar, said he was doing everything he could to prevent road widening wherever it was not necessary.

"We will take appropriate action wherever it is being done without proper survey," he said.

He added that he had written to the Bangalore incharge minister to stop road widening work on roads wherever it was unnecessary and causing hardship to citizens.