Eminent Bengalureans and common people will join hands to form a human chain to protest against the government's insistence on constructing a steel flyover without any clarity on the project.
More than 3,000 people, including members from various residents' welfare associations and NGOs, have joined hands for the cause. Members of the BJP, Aam Aadmi Party and Loksatta, too, will take part to voice their opinion against the steel flyover.
The 4.6-km human chain will be formed from Basaveshwara Circle to Mehkri Circle. For the convenience of people, four congregation points have been created at Basaveshwara Circle, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) head office, Cauvery magic box and Mehkri Circle. The human chain protest will be held from 8 am to 11 am. Those who cannot make it can express their opinion at bit.ly/steelflyoverbeda.
"It is strictly a 'no political agenda' protest. It will be a silent human chain, where all those gathering will wear a T-shirt stating 'No' or 'Beda'. There will be 20 volunteers stationed at every place to help out those protesting. All of us will be standing on footpaths and will not affect the movement of traffic or people. There will be breaks at every 500 metres to ensure smooth traffic flow," said Priya Chetty-Rajagopal, executive director — leadership and board practice, RGF Executive Search India.
The volunteers have also invited Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George and BDA Commissioner Rajkumar Khatri to visit the protest and hear the voice of people. The volunteers have also organised an open discussion on the steel flyover on October 23. "This is not going to be a signature campaign as voting has already been done on social media and all the votes collected will be given to Khatri during our meeting with the BDA. The whole human chain is going to be videographed and posted on social media," she said.
The traffic and law and order police have also given permission for it on condition that people should not gather near the chief minister's residence or near Basaveshwara statue.
DH News Service
This is not steel vs concrete, but about sensibility, about grace vs ugliness and about being ourselves and not losing it. It is about our Bengaluru and theirs. We will be happy to see the back of political parties. We have had enough of them.
Prakash Belawadi, film personality
The human chain is not for political mileage. It is to express displeasure about the existing state of affairs. People have had enough and it is now time to stand up for the citys greenery and for better planning with public consultation.
Priya Chetty Rajagopal, Executive Director- leadership and Board Practice, RGF, Executive Search India
I do not want the beauty of Bengaluru to be destroyed for a steel flyover. There is a need to find a solution and have various routes to the airport. I am told that there is an alternative route to the airport from Whitefield.
Justice N Santosh Hegde, former Lokayukta
The steel flyover is not required at the cost of 800-odd trees as our city is known for its trees and as Garden City. We are not against development but we oppose the haphazard way in which the government is planning to execute the project, that too in such a clandestine way. The citizens want to know why the government is hurrying on the project and not making details public
Vijay Nishanth, urban conservationist
How can this be decided in a hurry when there is traffic everywhere? Who is the mobility expert in the BDA? We are not against any progress or development. But in a democratically elected government, voices of people should be heard.
Naresh Narasimhan, architect
It will take years to replace chopped trees. We cannot go against nature. The government can take a look at alternatives such as road-widening. The whole city is against it and the government should drop the project, considering that a major chunk of citizens is opposing it.
S Umesh Kumar, president, Cubbon Park Walkers' Association
The human chain is a symbol of citizens coming together
to ensure their voices are heard for the future of our
city. They are saying no to projects that destroy our proud city rather than grow it in a sustainable way.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Rajya Sabha Member and BMPC member
We held a volunteer meeting for co-ordination of the human chain and there has been an overwhelming response. People smell something fishy in the project and hence the response. We are proud that we got this issue debated in public space
Srinivas Alavilli, Corruption Saaku
Eminent Bengalureans and common people will join hands to form a human chain to protest against the government’s insistence on constructing a steel flyover without any clarity on the project.
More than 3,000 people, including members from various residents’ welfare associations and NGOs, have joined hands for the cause. Members of the BJP, Aam Aadmi Party and Loksatta, too, will take part to voice their opinion against the steel flyover.
The 4.6-km human chain will be formed from Basaveshwara Circle to Mehkri Circle. For the convenience of people, four congregation points have been created at Basaveshwara Circle, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) head office, Cauvery magic box and Mehkri Circle. The human chain protest will be held from 8 am to 11 am. Those who cannot make it can express their opinion at bit.ly/steelflyoverbeda.
"It is strictly a 'no political agenda’ protest. It will be a silent human chain, where all those gathering will wear a T-shirt stating 'No’ or 'Beda’. There will be 20 volunteers stationed at every place to help out those protesting. All of us will be standing on footpaths and will not affect the movement of traffic or people. There will be breaks at every 500 metres to ensure smooth traffic flow,” said Priya Chetty-Rajagopal, executive director — leadership and board practice, RGF Executive Search India.
The volunteers have also invited Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George and BDA Commissioner Rajkumar Khatri to visit the protest and hear the voice of people. The volunteers have also organised an open discussion on the steel flyover on October 23. ”This is not going to be a signature campaign as voting has already been done on social media and all the votes collected will be given to Khatri during our meeting with the BDA. The whole human chain is going to be videographed and posted on social media,” she said.
The traffic and law and order police have also given permission for it on condition that people should not gather near the chief minister’s residence or near Basaveshwara statue.
DH News Service
This is not steel vs concrete, but about sensibility, about grace vs ugliness and about being ourselves and not losing it. It is about our Bengaluru and theirs. We will be happy to see the back of political parties. We have had enough of them.
Prakash Belawadi, film personality
The human chain is not for political mileage. It is to express displeasure about the existing state of affairs. People have had enough and it is now time to stand up for the city's greenery and for better planning with public consultation.
Priya Chetty Rajagopal, Executive Director- leadership and Board Practice, RGF, Executive Search India
I do not want the beauty of Bengaluru to be destroyed for a steel flyover. There is a need to find a solution and have various routes to the airport. I am told that there is an alternative route to the airport from Whitefield.
Justice N Santosh Hegde, former Lokayukta
The steel flyover is not required at the cost of 800-odd trees as our city is known for its trees and as Garden City. We are not against development but we oppose the haphazard way in which the government is planning to execute the project, that too in such a clandestine way. The citizens want to know why the government is hurrying on the project and not making details public
Vijay Nishanth, urban conservationist
How can this be decided in a hurry when there is traffic everywhere? Who is the mobility expert in the BDA? We are not against any progress or development. But in a democratically elected government, voices of people should be heard.
Naresh Narasimhan, architect
It will take years to replace chopped trees. We cannot go against nature. The government can take a look at alternatives such as road-widening. The whole city is against it and the government should drop the project, considering that a major chunk of citizens is opposing it.
S Umesh Kumar, president, Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association
The human chain is a symbol of citizens coming together
to ensure their voices are heard for the future of our
city. They are saying no to projects that destroy our proud city rather than grow it in a sustainable way.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Rajya Sabha Member and BMPC member
We held a volunteer meeting for co-ordination of the human chain and there has been an overwhelming response. People smell something fishy in the project and hence the response. We are proud that we got this issue debated in public space
Srinivas Alavilli, Corruption Saaku