Varthur citizens’ group opposes flyover, wants Metro transit in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: A citizens' group from Varthur has opposed the Rs 488-crore elevated flyover proposed at Varthur village, urging the govt to instead invest in future-ready mass transit solutions such as Metro.
When chief secretary Shalini Rajneesh visited Varthur and surrounding areas to inspect the projects, Varthur Nagarikara Hita Rakshana Vedike submitted a memorandum, warning that the project, planned without public consultation, poses serious environmental, legal and social risks.
The residents said the govt is acquiring the land to widen Varthur-Gunjur road to 100 feet. When widening work is in progress, where is the need for an elevated flyover, they wondered.
The 1.9-km, 60-foot-wide flyover, the group said, would cut through ecologically sensitive zones, including lake buffer areas, and threaten heritage temples and hundreds of fully grown trees.
Citizens instead proposed two Metro routes: Extension from Kadugodi to Hoskote and a new corridor from Hope Farm to Dommasandra via Varthur — routes that could benefit nearly 25 lakh people.
"The CS understood our concerns and extended support to the public transport mode rather than supporting infrastructure which encourages cars. We are hopeful she will get the flyover scrapped," Jagadeesh, member of the vedike, claimed.