Students write to CM opposing Sankey Tank flyover, road widening projects

BENGALURU: Despite public outcry, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is going ahead with its plan to widen Sankey Road and also construct a flyover to ease the flow of traffic. The project will involve chopping of some old trees, which environmentalists are concerned citizens are opposing.

Now, around 2,000 students from different schools in the area have started postcard campaign to save trees. They have sent handwritten postcards to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai opposing the proposed Sankey Tank Bund Toad widening and flyover from T Chowdaiah Memorial to 18th Cross.

Students of Stella Maris English Higher Primary and High School have written postcards to the CM.

According to available information, about 50-60 aged trees will be chopped for the construction of the proposed flyover and will impact at least two schools. Students from Malleswaram, Vyalikaval and Sadashivnagar are opposing the project and have urged the CM to protect their schools by writing postcards on January 20, 2023.

Addressing the Chief Minister as ‘Bommai uncle’ in the letter, the wrote, “Please save our environment . We want to learn in a healthy and safe atmosphere”.

Jnana Murthy, convener of Save Bengaluru Committee, said, “The BBMP has no concern about the environment. None of the citizen of the Bengaluru will agree to this project. If the trees are chopped, it may effect the soil in the Sankey Tank bund area. Road widening or flyovers are not the only solution to traffic congestion. Planning should be comprehensive. We are collecting public opinion and have some programmes in future”.

Bindu Vidyadhar, one of the students, requested the CM, “Please do not cut the trees for the flyover as noise pollution is increasing. We do not want that project”.

Like-minded people from the area have started an online campaign to save the trees and now students too have joined forces with them.