Residents oppose Varthur flyover, demand sustainable transit solutions

In a strong show of civic participation, the Varthur Nagarikara Hita Rakshana Vedike, a residents’ collective from East Bengaluru has submitted a detailed memorandum to Chief Secretary Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, IAS, strongly opposing the proposed Rs 488 crore flyover in Varthur. The group is instead advocating for a metro line from Jigani to Kadugodi Tree Park via Varthur, highlighting the need for sustainable, future-ready transportation in Bengaluru’s expanding eastern corridor.

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The memorandum raises several concerns, including the absence of public consultation, a lack of transparency in project costs, and violations of legal procedures under the Karnataka Town & Country Planning (KTCP) Act, 1961. Originally estimated at Rs 187 crore, the project’s cost has unexpectedly surged to Rs 488 crore without explanation or access to a Detailed Project Report (DPR). 

Environmental concerns are also central to their opposition. The flyover is planned within the buffer zone of Varthur Lake, violating a High Court ruling and potentially increasing flood risks, depleting groundwater, and worsening Bengaluru’s heat island effect. The project also threatens heritage structures like the 16th century Channarayaswamy and Kashi Vishwanathaswamy temples and several century old trees. 

The group asserts that the project has not been reviewed by constitutionally mandated bodies like the Metropolitan Planning Committee or the State Finance Commission, making it legally mentionable.they call for scrapping the flyover, releasing the DPR, protecting heritage and exploring metro alternatives.