BackProtests intensify against Bengaluru’s proposed flyover project
Bengaluru to see a human chain protest on Sunday which will have at least 1,300 protestors who have signed up on a Facebook page to mobilize support against the flyover
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Bengaluru: Activists and protesters in Bengaluru plan a protest on Sunday as opposition mounts against the proposed steel flyover that the Karnataka government approved last week.
Sunday morning’s proposed human chain protest will have at least 1,300 protestors who have signed up on a Facebook page to mobilize support against the flyover, although the turnout will be higher, Girish Gowdoor N.K., a volunteer helping organise the protests said.
Also read: Bengaluru opposes steel flyover that will cost Rs1,800 crore, 800 trees
The planned demonstration marks an intensification of the protests against the proposed steel flyover that is being built ostensibly to reduce congestion on the way to the airport.
A campaign by a non-government agency, Jhatka, to collect what are called ‘missed calls,’ where the caller hangs up before anybody answers the phone, is also underway. Messages inviting missed calls to protest the proposed tree cutting for the project were circulating on various social media fora, such as instant messaging platform WhatsApp.
The campaign had already generated 26,000 missed calls, said Divya Narayanan, a campaigner for Jhatka.
Tree cutting has already attracted activists ire. On 27 September last month, activists ratcheted up protests against the felling of trees for a road project in Bangalore, taking their protest to the city civic body. Two days later, the state cabinet approved a proposal to build a 6-kilometer, ₹ 1,721 crore steel bridge that will require that at least 800 trees be cut down.
Also read: Green activists face off with Bengaluru civic authorities over felling of trees
Opposition has been mounting to the project with concerns over the project, which requires felling of at least 800 full-grown trees, but is unlikely to de-congest one of the busiest roads in the city among other issues, including ‘vested interests’.
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