HASSAN: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has said that the previous Siddaramaiah government feared criticism from and did not go ahead with the proposed 6.7-km-long steel flyover from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal Junction in Bengaluru, but had he been at the helm of affairs, he would not have succumbed to pressure.
“Many give me suggestions of building tunnels and flyovers. In the previous Siddaramaiah regime, they wanted to build a steel bridge, but there was a huge uproar and outrage over it. Siddaramaiah and K J George got scared. If I were in their position, I would not have budged and would have gone ahead with it”, Shivakumar said.
The proposed flyover, which was aimed at reducing traffic congestion, was estimated to cost around Rs 1,800 crore and would have connected Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal flyover and would be a 6.7 km steel flyover. But the proposal was met with protests from citizens and environmental activists with their ‘Steel Flyover Beda’ protest in the year 2016.
After having met with a huge backlash from the residents, the Bangalore Development Authority, in 2016, gave an undertaking to Karnataka High Court that it will not construct the proposed steel flyover in Bengaluru. The authorities claimed that the proposed flyover will decongest the ride to the international airport located on the city’s outskirts. (ANI)