Post 2016 Karnataka budget there seems to be renewed vigour to pursue projects with high glamour value but low utility. One such project is building elevated corridors like the one from Vidhan Soudha to Hebbal in Bengaluru. 

Here is the news item which suggests its being pushed in a hurry http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/Tenders-for-Elevated-Corridor-Soon/2015/03/15/article2714217.ece

It has been proven time & again in every part of the world, Induced Demand ensures that every lane we add will get filled with cars in no time at all. It is a losing battle. Populous countries like India & China can't afford to follow a private vehicle centric development strategy. We have to focus on moving people instead of cars and one of the most efficient ways to do that is through public transport. 

Why should you worry?

1. Small thinking - This elevated road will be full the day it is finished building and will not alleviate any traffic jams, it will in fact move the jams to Hebbal as seen by the elevated highway on the NHAI side. You have to come to the surface somewhere and you know its not a cakewalk at that point. 

2. Does not solve the problem - ORR between Silkboard and Hebbal is a clear example of how signal free corridors dont solve problems. It has only become worse. And not to mention the area underneath all the elevated monsters are left to rot as though the people who use the surface are not worth any good infrastructure. The cover image for this petition is a writeup which analysed flyovers in Delhi and concluded it was no use. Union minister for road transport Nitin Gadkari had in a recent event mentioned even after building 55 flyovers in Mumbai it hasn't solved any problem. 

3. Trust deficit & capability concerns - The agencies in Bengaluru who plan/build these elevated roads & flyovers design the these contraptions in a flawed manner so as to cause maximum damage to traffic management both during and after the construction, even if not intentional. We are throwing good money after bad if we believe they are somehow magically going to do this better.  If they can't engineer the surface well why would you trust their engineering skills? If you didn't know, the High grounds to Hebbal corridor is already signal free, its just engineered so well you can't tell. 

4. Intentions and choice of projects - Why do they believe traffic from Vidhan Soudha to Airport alone is the problem in Bengaluru and not from other parts? Aren't people from South Bangalore stuck for hours even before they get to Vidhan Soudha? What does this tell you about the intentions of the people imagining these solutions?

5. Where is public transport? - Even if you junked your car & said I want to switch to public transport there have been no efforts made to make it easier for you to take it. You can't walk to the bus stand and you won't get one in time even if you did. Bengaluru is probably the only city, with over 10 million population, in the world, which relies purely on bus. Options like Suburban trains dont exist it even if you decide to use them. There isn't a proper unified metropolitan transport authority which can look at multimodal integration allowing you to make the switch between modes easy for you. There is next to no protection or facilities for cyclists and people who walk. Its a downright dangerous city we are building for ourselves and they dont seem to care about you.

6. Experts dont like it too - Lots of experts in the city and outside have clearly advised the government against these massive pillar laying and concrete pouring projects which serve no purpose. It appears that the government knows something even the experts dont. It should be worrying to you that you are getting projects from governments that listens only to vested interests.

7. Lack of transparency - They are never transparent about these projects. Public consultation and transparency on projects which involve tremendous inconveniences during & and after construction is never done. Why is it given a go by?

Why should you sign this petition?

Because we need to send a message to the powers that be, to work on long term sustainable plans to start moving people more efficiently within the city, instead of trying to apply bandaid solutions in patches which are defective from the get go.