Karnataka elections: Parties stay mum, but city civic groups ensure spotlight remains on elevated corridor project

BENGALURU: Political parties and their candidates in Bengaluru have been holding their cards close to their chest on the contentious elevated corridor during the election campaign but citizen activists, intent on not allowing the issue to be put on the back burner, are conducting awareness drives among voters to highlight the proposed project’s drawbacks.Having generated controversy because of the development vs environment debate and public perception of the prevalence of corruption in mega projects, the project now appears to have the potential to swing the outcome of the elections in the city’s three constituencies. The JD(S)-Congress government, unlike Siddaramaiah regime that shelved the steel flyover project ahead of 2018 assembly polls after a public outcry, is determined to go ahead with the elevated corridor.Ignoring the resistance to the project, a week before the announcement of Lok Sabha elections, the government invited tenders for the 22km north-south corridor, one of the main sections of the Rs 26,000-crore, 102km elevated corridor.“The tender process is underway as we have obtained environment clearance. The project work will begin after the elections,” PWD secretary KS Krishna Reddy said.However, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy himself assured activists that he would not proceed with the project without public consultation.“The chief minister’s swift assurance on public consultation shows how sensitive the issue is in a poll season,” said Nitya Reddy, president of Citizen Welfare Association of Richmond Town and Langford Town. “That said, we are creating awareness among people so that they can think twice before casting their vote.”Several other civic groups too are also on the job.BJP leaders took the cue with R Ashoka, former deputy chief minister, tweeting in favour of #TenderRadduMaadi. State unit president BS Yeddyurappa also backed the movement.Not all are against the infrastructure project, especially people from northern Bengaluru, who are seeking an effective solution to traffic congestion.“People will appreciate the resolve of the government to solve their traffic woes,” said minister Krishna Byre Gowda, the Congress candidate in Bengaluru North. “The project will also increase job opportunities in northern Bengaluru.”