Citizens’ voice to be heard on road widening

Citizens’ voice to be heard on road widening
Bangalore:Aug 10, DHNS:

The State Government would consider citizens’ misgivings on road widening projects in the City, Minister for Higher Education Aravind Limbavali has said.

“I am also not in favour of widening roads by demolishing houses and depriving shelters. As an engineer, I would prefer alternative ways to reduce traffic congestion in City roads,” the minister said here on Tuesday. He was speaking at a protest meeting organised by Save Bangalore Committee (SBC) at Banappa Park. Limbavali said the issue would be discussed in the Cabinet meeting and widening on some roads, if found necessary would be shelved.

Retired judge of the Karnataka High Court Justice M F Saldanha, referred to suicide of 370 shopkeepers who lost their property the Metro project in New Delhi. He said the government should factor in travails of the affected before venturing on road widening projects. He termed the project ‘favouring vested interests’

Veteran freedom fighter H S Doreswamy said people should not backtrack with the ad hoc measures announced by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike. Convener of the SBC, Dr B R Manjunath said the Committee would continue its struggle until the project is shelved officially.

A good number of people turned up on a call given by the SBC to continue the protest until the government denotified the road widening projects.