Protest against Palike's road widening plans

Protest against Palike's road widening plans


Express News Service First Published : 11 Aug 2010 03:42:35 AM ISTLast Updated : 11 Aug 2010 08:19:07 AM IST
BANGALORE: Justice M F Saldanha on Tuesday said around 370 owners of roadside shops committed suicide due to problems arising out of the city corporation's road widening project.He was speaking at the rally against road-widening in the city.
The Save Bangalore group had organised the rally in which more than 800 people took part.
The rally started from Mysore Bank Circle and culminated at Banappa Park.
Veteran freedom fighter H S Doreswamy, Saldanha and people whose properties are threatened by the roadwidening plans participated in the rally.
Saldanha said Transparency International has rated the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) as the most corrupt city corporation in India.
He said the recent announcement - that no roads will be widened without survey and public approval - was deceptive. He said road widening was a Cabinet decision and any decision against it too has to have Cabinet approval.
B R Manjunath, convener of Save Bangalore, said Bangalore should follow the example of London where public transport was encouraged and there are provisions for underground parking.
He said the idea of road widening should be dropped as it was antipeople and unscientific.
Minister for Higher Education Aravind Limbavali attended the rally on behalf of the government.
He said the government was rethinking the issue and was looking at other options.