BBMP plans to remove 157 trees for Ejipura flyover, here’s how Bengaluru residents can raise their concerns

Speaking to The Indian Express, Raghu Rajagopal, president of Koramangala 4th Block Residents Welfare Association, said, “If the identified 157 trees are relocated, this is simply a invited move. It is important to guarantee that these trees should beryllium relocated and fundamentally relocated wrong Koramangala. As residents, we person been supporting the BBMP successful identifying the abstraction to relocate these trees. We person fixed them 4 oregon 5 locations to take from, including authorities lands, layouts, and nearby lakes, among different places.”

He added, “Objecting to removing and relocating trees serves nary intent due to the fact that we person each been warring for years to implicit the flyover.”

In 2023, researchers from Azim Premji University, successful a accelerated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, observed the biology interaction of the projected Ejipura flyover project. The survey by Harini Nagendra, Seema Mundoli, Vidya Ramesh, Vivek G and Soumi Das highlighted that much than 200 trees were under threat due to this project. In the 2.5-km stretch, they counted 207 trees of 24 taxon from 11 families. Of the 207 trees, 51 are rainfall trees. As per the study, the archetypal Detailed Project Report (DPR) highlighted that 286 trees would request to be axed to physique the elevated flyover and the loops.

The Karnataka authorities has extended the deadline for completing the long-pending 2.5-km Ejipura flyover to December-end, allowing the aforesaid operation steadfast to proceed the work. The determination comes aft the involution of BTM Layout MLA and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, nether whose constituency the flyover falls.

Ejipura flyover: a communicative of respective delays

Initially launched successful 2017, the flyover project, which aims to easiness congestion from Ejipura to Kendriya Sadan, has been marred by repeated delays, outgo escalations, and logistical issues. Originally scheduled for completion by November 4, 2019, astatine an estimated outgo of Rs 203.20 crore, the project’s cost has skyrocketed to Rs 1,761 crore.

Simplex Infrastructure, the archetypal contractor awarded the tender, received aggregate extensions but failed to present connected time. This led to the existent contractor, BSCPL Infrastructure Ltd, taking implicit the task successful November 2023 with a 15-month deadline. However, the steadfast failed to conscionable monthly milestones, prompting BBMP to see declaration termination.

Following a gathering with BBMP engineers and the contractor, Reddy intervened to code concerns, including delays successful receiving materials and segments prepared by the erstwhile firm. In a bid to resoluteness the challenges, the declaration play has been extended by different year.

Meanwhile, commuters proceed to look terrible hardships connected the stretch, which has around 7 postulation signals betwixt Kendriya Sadan junction and Ejipura junction. During highest hours, the 2.5-km travel takes 30 to 40 minutes, with potholes and waterlogging adding to their woes, particularly for two-wheeler riders during rains.