Sunday is usually a day to relax and spend time with family. But this Sunday was different. A serious mood prevailed all along the 4.6-km stretch from Basaveshwara Circle to Mehkri Circle as people had gathered not to relax, but to prove a point.
They came from far-off places, such as Chandapura (32 km away), to form a human chain and speak up against the government's decision to build a steel flyover by axing 812 trees in the heart of Bengaluru.
Some came by their own vehicles, but there were many who travelled by BMTC buses or cycled. They had decided not to sit at home and relax, but join the protest to save the city's future.
They didn't rest even a minute. They shouted slogans and exhorted passersby to join them. Some enthusiastically explained to passersby why they were opposing the project. Among the protesters were retired government and police officials, too.
For T Sinhappa, 58, his day's earnings as autorickshaw driver mattered little. He earns around Rs 2,000 a day and almost twice as much on Sundays. All that mattered to him on October 16, 2016, was that trees should not be cut any more. "Sunday is a day when I can earn a good sum. But sacrificing that is nothing compared to losing 812 trees. My friends, neighbours and I decided to keep everything aside and join hands for a cause," he said.
The group left Jayanagar in three batches by bus to reach the Palace Grounds at 7.30 am to be part of the human chain.
Geeta P, a garment factory worker from Bannerghatta Road, came with 50-odd colleagues. "I have worked on many Sundays and was supposed to work this Sunday, too," she said. "But I am ready to lose a day's pay because I do not want the steel flyover to be constructed at the cost of trees. It's already very hot in Bengaluru. Those using AC cars do not feel the heat, but many others do."
'Don't ignore us'
Savithamma, a domestic help from RT Nagar, also lost her day's earnings, just to hold a placard and speak out against the steel flyover. She said that the protest was for the common man whose voice the government had been ignoring so far.
Ratna Gopal, 75, and her family decided to make this Sunday different. Beating the heat, the family of four stood with placards and shouted slogans against the steel flyover.
"We cannot sit at home and relax when the city where we have grown up is suffering. I want to save the trees for my grandchildren. The cost of the flyover has increased by 33.5% but the cost of steel has dropped. As a home maker, I understand this, but the government cannot," she said. "Usually, as a family, we spend less time together because my sons are busy, but for this cause we have come together."
![]( "People beat drums to register their protest against the steel flyover project. DH PHOTO")
Sunday is usually a day to relax and spend time with family. But this Sunday was different. A serious mood prevailed all along the 4.6-km stretch from Basaveshwara Circle to Mehkri Circle as people had gathered not to relax, but to prove a point.
They came from far-off places, such as Chandapura (32 km away), to form a human chain and speak up against the government’s decision to build a steel flyover by axing 812 trees in the heart of Bengaluru.
Some came by their own vehicles, but there were many who travelled by BMTC buses or cycled. They had decided not to sit at home and relax, but join the protest to save the city’s future.
They didn’t rest even a minute. They shouted slogans and exhorted passersby to join them. Some enthusiastically explained to passersby why they were opposing the project. Among the protesters were retired government and police officials, too.
For T Sinhappa, 58, his day’s earnings as autorickshaw driver mattered little. He earns around Rs 2,000 a day and almost twice as much on Sundays. All that mattered to him on October 16, 2016, was that trees should not be cut any more. "Sunday is a day when I can earn a good sum. But sacrificing that is nothing compared to losing 812 trees. My friends, neighbours and I decided to keep everything aside and join hands for a cause,” he said.
The group left Jayanagar in three batches by bus to reach the Palace Grounds at 7.30 am to be part of the human chain.
Geeta P, a garment factory worker from Bannerghatta Road, came with 50-odd colleagues. "I have worked on many Sundays and was supposed to work this Sunday, too,” she said. "But I am ready to lose a day’s pay because I do not want the steel flyover to be constructed at the cost of trees. It’s already very hot in Bengaluru. Those using AC cars do not feel the heat, but many others do.”
'Don’t ignore us’
Savithamma, a domestic help from RT Nagar, also lost her day’s earnings, just to hold a placard and speak out against the steel flyover. She said that the protest was for the common man whose voice the government had been ignoring so far.
Ratna Gopal, 75, and her family decided to make this Sunday different. Beating the heat, the family of four stood with placards and shouted slogans against the steel flyover.
"We cannot sit at home and relax when the city where we have grown up is suffering. I want to save the trees for my grandchildren. The cost of the flyover has increased by 33.5% but the cost of steel has dropped. As a home maker, I understand this, but the government cannot,” she said. "Usually, as a family, we spend less time together because my sons are busy, but for this cause we have come together.”
They came from far-off places, such as Chandapura (32 km away), to form a human chain and speak up against the government's decision to build a steel flyover by axing 812 trees in the heart of Bengaluru.
Some came by their own vehicles, but there were many who travelled by BMTC buses or cycled. They had decided not to sit at home and relax, but join the protest to save the city's future.
They didn't rest even a minute. They shouted slogans and exhorted passersby to join them. Some enthusiastically explained to passersby why they were opposing the project. Among the protesters were retired government and police officials, too.
For T Sinhappa, 58, his day's earnings as autorickshaw driver mattered little. He earns around Rs 2,000 a day and almost twice as much on Sundays. All that mattered to him on October 16, 2016, was that trees should not be cut any more. "Sunday is a day when I can earn a good sum. But sacrificing that is nothing compared to losing 812 trees. My friends, neighbours and I decided to keep everything aside and join hands for a cause," he said.
The group left Jayanagar in three batches by bus to reach the Palace Grounds at 7.30 am to be part of the human chain.
Geeta P, a garment factory worker from Bannerghatta Road, came with 50-odd colleagues. "I have worked on many Sundays and was supposed to work this Sunday, too," she said. "But I am ready to lose a day's pay because I do not want the steel flyover to be constructed at the cost of trees. It's already very hot in Bengaluru. Those using AC cars do not feel the heat, but many others do."
'Don't ignore us'
Savithamma, a domestic help from RT Nagar, also lost her day's earnings, just to hold a placard and speak out against the steel flyover. She said that the protest was for the common man whose voice the government had been ignoring so far.
Ratna Gopal, 75, and her family decided to make this Sunday different. Beating the heat, the family of four stood with placards and shouted slogans against the steel flyover.
"We cannot sit at home and relax when the city where we have grown up is suffering. I want to save the trees for my grandchildren. The cost of the flyover has increased by 33.5% but the cost of steel has dropped. As a home maker, I understand this, but the government cannot," she said. "Usually, as a family, we spend less time together because my sons are busy, but for this cause we have come together."
Sunday is usually a day to relax and spend time with family. But this Sunday was different. A serious mood prevailed all along the 4.6-km stretch from Basaveshwara Circle to Mehkri Circle as people had gathered not to relax, but to prove a point. They came from far-off places, such as Chandapura (32 km away), to form a human chain and speak up against the government’s decision to build a steel flyover by axing 812 trees in the heart of Bengaluru.
Some came by their own vehicles, but there were many who travelled by BMTC buses or cycled. They had decided not to sit at home and relax, but join the protest to save the city’s future.
They didn’t rest even a minute. They shouted slogans and exhorted passersby to join them. Some enthusiastically explained to passersby why they were opposing the project. Among the protesters were retired government and police officials, too.
For T Sinhappa, 58, his day’s earnings as autorickshaw driver mattered little. He earns around Rs 2,000 a day and almost twice as much on Sundays. All that mattered to him on October 16, 2016, was that trees should not be cut any more. "Sunday is a day when I can earn a good sum. But sacrificing that is nothing compared to losing 812 trees. My friends, neighbours and I decided to keep everything aside and join hands for a cause,” he said.
The group left Jayanagar in three batches by bus to reach the Palace Grounds at 7.30 am to be part of the human chain.
Geeta P, a garment factory worker from Bannerghatta Road, came with 50-odd colleagues. "I have worked on many Sundays and was supposed to work this Sunday, too,” she said. "But I am ready to lose a day’s pay because I do not want the steel flyover to be constructed at the cost of trees. It’s already very hot in Bengaluru. Those using AC cars do not feel the heat, but many others do.”
'Don’t ignore us’
Savithamma, a domestic help from RT Nagar, also lost her day’s earnings, just to hold a placard and speak out against the steel flyover. She said that the protest was for the common man whose voice the government had been ignoring so far.
Ratna Gopal, 75, and her family decided to make this Sunday different. Beating the heat, the family of four stood with placards and shouted slogans against the steel flyover.
"We cannot sit at home and relax when the city where we have grown up is suffering. I want to save the trees for my grandchildren. The cost of the flyover has increased by 33.5% but the cost of steel has dropped. As a home maker, I understand this, but the government cannot,” she said. "Usually, as a family, we spend less time together because my sons are busy, but for this cause we have come together.”