If we don't oppose it now, we lose Bangalore forever
Hi everyone. As many of you may know, our wonderful govt is planning on building flyovers. So many flyovers. Right through trees, lakes, parks, neighbourhoods. 150 km of flyovers. 150 km of dead space that will be dedicated to cars and will kill our city.
One such flyover is planned in Indiranagar (among other neighbourhoods).
Starting from the Swami Vivekananda Metro Station, cutting into 80 Feet Road, CMH Road, CMH Park, 100 Feet Road, right up to Domlur Bridge.
As you can see in the image below, the flyover cuts right through the heart of Indiranagar. If it's built, we will lose trees, any semblance of walkability in Indiranagar, and whatever liveliness and hustle we have in our neighbourhood.
If you've seen these roads, you would know that there are large trees everywhere. Hundreds of them. They will all be gone.
Let's say you don't care about trees, and you don't mind flyovers. But if you do care about being able to walk, shop and visit a brewery on 100 feet road. Then you should care about this.
Show me *one* neighbourhood that has not been negatively affected with a flyover cutting through it. You know what happens when a flyover is built? The space below it falls into disuse. It attracts garbage, abandoned vehicles, and god knows whatever the hell else.
This isn't even rocket science. Just ask Google, it will tell you and share receipts.
If you want Indiranagar rent prices to fall, sure, maybe if it turns into a heap of garbage that will happen.
If you care about any of the following, you should oppose this.
- Trees
- Bangalore
- Indiranagar
- Democracy (guess the number of citizen discussions B-SMILE held? ZERO. In spite of overwhelming opposition, this unelected body is steamrolling ahead. See - https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/despite-opposition-b-smile-awards-nine-elevated-corridors-all-above-estimated-cost/article71341610.ece )
And opposition just online does not work. We need to come on the ground. Show the government that they work for the people, and not the other way round.
The playbook is there. We need young people. The uncle and aunties don't care.
We need humour. We need mockery. And we need a clear demand.
The demand in this case is that the elevated corridor must be put into the bin. That any future proposals must involve citizen discussions and must not move ahead without them.
And if this does not happen, then we want the resignation of the B-SMILE director B.S. Prahlad. If there is a public body chairperson that does not listen to the public, that person needs to be kicked out.
I'm going to be organising a protest to oppose this flyover. And it won't be in the corner at Freedom Park, a place that's so nondescript that no one cares about what happens there.
We will do it in the middle of Indiranagar. At the KFC junction. On a Saturday afternoon.
Peaceful and humour filled. Something that can't be ignored.
What do you need to do to show your support?
- Join the WA group - A social movement can only happen if there are numbers. Comment below or DM and I'll share the link with you.
- Share this post with your friends, ask them to join the group too.
- Show up when it matters.
