Save Sankey road trees, lake, park and playground
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/sankey/ newly created on Wed, March 09, 2011
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/4/say-no-to-sankey-road-widening/ created on May 13, 2010
Last update: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 @ 07:54 AM / hours IST
Sankey Road set to lose 445 trees - Deccan Herald - Saturday, March 05, 2011
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/143292/sankey-road-set-lose-445.html

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) plans to widen 220 roads in the city. It'll axe 445 trees on the picturesque and green canopied Sankey Road to widen it from Yeshwanthpura Circle to the Cauvery Theatre, ignoring protests from the Green Brigade. It'll also raze a temple, educational institutions and some government buildings.

Road will be widened from the existing width of 12 metres to 15 metres at Rs 21.77 crore, to make a 2.6-km-long signal free corridor with a 30-metre to 45-metre wide road.

Dr Meenakshi Bharath of the Citizens' Action Forum (CAF) is convinced that there is absolutely no need to widen the road.

BBMP axe threatens green canopy Deccan Herald, Tuesday, March 02, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/55742/bbmp-axe-threatens-green-canopy.html

Bangalore City to lose more green cover - DH Photo

The BBMP's road-widening axe is about to raze / fell the green canopy on Sankey Road - from Cauvery Theatre Circle to Bhashyam Circle at Malleswaram.

The nod for the road-widening project from the Cauvery Theatre to Yeshwanthapur had come five years ago (in 2006). But now, the BBMP wants the project to go ahead under its Vision-2015 programme.

Rs 25 crore's been sanctioned and the contracts have been awarded.

BBMP plans to widen the road by 30 ft x 15 ft on both sides. That means most trees on the footpaths will be axed / razed.

Malleswaram Residents' Welfare Association member Chandrashekhar questioned the project's rationale, since the road is already wide.

Vijay Kumar, Sankey Park Walkers' Association secretary, pointed out that the BBMP plan to plant saplings in five years has remained on paper.

The Karnataka Park Preservation Act, 1975, Karnataka Parks, Playfields and Open Spaces Rules, 1985, Karnataka Parks, Playfields and Open Spaces Act, 1985, prohibit construction of buildings or structures that affect a park's utility. As it amounts to a change of land use, a public notification should be made under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961.

Bangalore civic body set to widen Sankey Road despite stiff resistance : DNA - Daily News & Analysis - Saturday, Mar 05, 2011, 8:26 IST
http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_bangalore-civic-body-set-to-widen-sankey-road-despite-stiff-resistance_1515704 
The widening will also involve raising the level of the land adjoining the road, which at present is about six / 06 feet deeper than the road.

19 properties adjoining the road will be acquired, some of which are government-owned. RCC walls would be constructed to elevate the land to the height of the road; the work is likely to cost Rs 21 crore.

The road from Yeshwantpur Circle to Cauvery Theatre, a stretch of 2.6 km, would be widened. While the existing width of the road is 10.5-25.4 metres, after widening, it'd be 30-45 metres. 445 trees will be axed.

Panel for widening Sankey Road The Hindu - Monday, March 07, 2011
http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/07/stories/2011030762620800.htm 
Project will cost Rs. 29 cr.
445 trees likely to be felled

Garden city will lose more green cover. The BBMP Standing Committee for Major Works stressed the need to widen Sankey Road (between Bhashyam Circle and Malleswaram 18th Cross Junction) and to build an underpass at Bhashyam Circle by felling 445 trees.

The widening of the 2.6-km stretch would cost Rs. 29.94 crore. The width ranges between 10.5 metres at some spots and 25.4 metres. Depending on availability of land, this will increase to 30 m and 45 m.

The civic authority will have to acquire 19 properties and recover encroached government and BBMP properties.

Road widening proposal in Bangalore hits a roadblock - Bangalore - DNA Tuesday, May 11, 2010 10:52 IST
http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/interview_road-widening-proposal-in-bangalore-hits-a-roadblock_1381679 
A road-widening proposal of the BBMP at Sankey Tank under its Vision-2015 has hit a roadblock, as residents staged a protest against the destruction of green canopy in the area. Considering the increasing heat, residents say, any plan that further depletes the city's green cover cannot be allowed to pass. Dr Rajan Balasubramaniam, a radiologist and a committee member of the Lower Palace Orchard Residents' Welfare Association, spoke to DNA

Are road-widening programmes entirely without benefit to the area's residents?
The widening of the stretch between Cauvery Theatre Circle and Bhashyam Circle is of absolutely no benefit. Any road widening will be inconsequential after some time, considering the steadily increasing vehicular traffic. We can't go on building overpasses at every junction, just because the BBMP wants to have a signal-free corridor. These only serve to shift the traffic pile-up to the next junction.

Do you agree with Aramane Nagar corporator Dr Shivaprasad's statement that "people have to suffer in the course of development"?
In the specific context of road-widening, it is not just 'some people' but all Bangaloreans who will suffer. We all will need to pay a huge price for unjustifiable destruction of trees. Most of the green cover in Bangalore is along its main roads. And these trees now face the axe, thanks to the BBMP's Vision-2015. We are already facing the consequences of tree loss in terms of decreasing rainfall, erratic weather patterns and increasing mercury levels.

Do you think increased vehicular traffic on the proposed corridor could pose a threat?
Definitely. Just see how many pedestrian deaths have been reported from the stretch leading to the new airport. Pedestrians experience difficulty in measuring the speed of an oncoming vehicle; getting across three lanes of traffic to reach the median is no mean feat. There are four schools in the vicinity, and the problem is compounded by the large number of kids. One can't build pedestrian underpasses at every few metres. Apart from this, there are a considerable number of senior citizens in the area. They need to cross the road to access the Sankey Park. I'm not saying the existing road is easy to cross, but the widening of it'll double the problem. Bangalore is one of the world's most pedestrian unfriendly cities.

Could you suggest an alternative plan for the BBMP to consider?
The long-term solution is good mass transport.

Mission: Save trees - Bangalore Mirror Monday, May 10, 2010
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=10&contentid=2010051020100510053136974fea40ad2 

Bangalore Mirror Bureau Posted On Monday, May 10, 2010 at 05:31:37 AM
Chopping more than 150 trees to prevent a 1.5 km detour! Is this sane?

This is the question that seven / 07 residents' welfare organisations (RWAs) have been asking ever since the BBMP drew up plans to widen Sankey Road from Cauvery Theatre Junction to IISc Junction. The BBMP reasons that widening Sankey Road will not only ease traffic pressure on the parallel C V Raman Road but also save time for motorists heading towards Yeshwanthpur from the centre of the city.

But the residents are not enthused. They feel road-widening is not necessary here as the road is wide enough already.

Equating the project to a massacre of trees, the RWAs staged a demonstration on Sunday, May 09, 2010 evening at Sankey Tank under the banner of Save Sankey Road and Park Forum and demanded the BBMP not to cut the trees.

At a press conference at the protest, the Forum's member Dr Rajan said, "I drove from Cauvery theater / theatre to Indian Institute of Science (IISc) via Sankey Road which is only 2.4 kilometers / kilometres. And I drove from Cauvery theater / theatre to IISc via C V Raman Road which is about 3.4 kilometers / kilometres. To save this one kilometer / kilometre drive, the officials are cutting down 150 fully grown trees along with another 115 smaller trees. A six lane highway is not needed here as there is no traffic congestion."

Sankey Park Walkers Association Secretary Vijaya Kumar said, "The tank is about 175 acres and over 7,000-8,000 people come to walk here daily. On weekends, the numbers almost double. The lake was developed only about three to four years ago (in 2007/2006) and this walking track was added only then. If this road widening is going to take away this walking track, then why make it at all in the first place? This is unfair."

Protest against six-lane corridor in Malleswaram The Hindu Monday May 10, 2010
http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/10/stories/2010051059380300.htm 
More than 300 residents take out procession

COMING TOGETHER FOR A CAUSE: Residents staging a protest against widening of Sankey Road, in Bangalore on Sunday, May 9, 2010. - Photo: Bhagya Prakash K. - The Hindu

More than 300 residents of Malleswaram and adjoining areas came together here on Sunday, May 09, 2010 evening to protest against the proposed six-lane corridor from Cauvery Junction to Yeshwanthpur, which is expected to result in chopping of well-grown trees.

The protest was a joint initiative of seven resident welfare associations in Malleswaram under the Save Sankey Road and Park Forum, and the residents took out a protest march from the Sankey Tank via Bhashyam Circle to return to the tank.

They expressed concern over the trees being axed for the project, which may affect the sensitive biodiversity of Sankey Tank.

"How will this six-lane signal-free corridor be implemented with the presence of four major traffic junctions - Malleswaram 18th Cross, Bhashyam Signal, Maramma Circle and Cauvery Junction?" asked Rajan Balasubramanian of the Lower Palace Orchards Residents' Welfare Association.

The protestors also expressed concern over the threat faced by pedestrians, especially students of four schools located in the vicinity - Stella Maris, Poorna Prajna Education Centre, Kendriya Vidyalaya and the Government Boys' School. They also alleged that the cost of the project had escalated from Rs. 30 crore to Rs. 33 crore due to re-tendering.

Vijay Kumar, secretary of the Sankey Park Walkers' Association, called the project unscientific and said the Government and the BBMP should consult the public before undertaking it, as the funds used for it came from the tax payer's pocket.

They also decided to stage a protest on Sunday, May 16, 2010 next against the felling of trees by a petroleum outlet on Sankey Road.

Residents protest road widening Deccan Herald Monday, May 10, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/68604/residents-protest-road-widening.html

Residents under the banner of Save Sankey Road and Park Forum taking out a protest rally near Sankey Tank on Sunday, May 9, 2010. - Deccan Herald Photo

Hundreds of people formed a human chain on Sunday, May 10, 2010 evening at the Sankey Tank to protest the proposed widening of road from Cauvery Theatre junction to Yeshwanthpur.

The Sankey Tank Park near Malleswaram 18th Cross was flooded with posters and banners underlining the impact of the proposed project. The widening entails felling of trees on both sides of the stretch, besides occupying a good portion of the historic tank.

The protesters - members of seven different organisations came under an umbrella body - Save Sankey Road and Tank Forum apprehended that the project would destroy the beauty of one of the posh localities of the City.

The office-bearer of the Forum, Dr Rajan said people from all walks of life have come together to save Sankey Road and Park.

He said the road widening project would adversely affect the biodiversity in and around the Sankey Tank.

He also said that the six-lane road from Cauvery Theatre junction to Yeshwanthapur lacks an integrated plan. The road will be 30 meters wide up to the CNR Rao Circle and thereafter 45 meters up to Yeshwanthapur, said Dr Rajan.

BBMP's rationale of constructing a six-lane high-speed corridor in a residential area questioned
He questioned the rationale of the BBMP in constructing a six-lane high-speed corridor in a residential area and sought to know whether pedestrians' safety has been factored in while designing the project plan.

Dr Rajan said the Forum had sought Detailed Project Report (DPR) from BBMP under Right to Information (RTI) Act and nothing has been heard even after lapse of three weeks.

Tree felling not a solution
Dr Meenakshi Bharath said tree-felling should not be a solution to avoid traffic jams. Tree-feeling would lead to ecological imbalance in the surrounding areas.

Efforts to meet officials too proved futile as they did not bother to give time to meet the Forum members and the residents of Sadashivanagar, Vyalikaval, Malleswaram had no other option but to stage a protest.

BBMP to fell 100 trees on Sankey Rd | Deccan Chronicle | 2010-05-10 -Deccan Chronicle Monday, May 10, 2010
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/bengaluru/bbmp-fell-100-trees-sankey-rd-395 
Agitated over the road-widening work which is likely to destroy an entire tree-lined avenue, members of Sankey Park Walkers' Association went on a protest on Sunday, May 9, 2010.

The road-widening project from Cauvery Theatre to Yeshwanthpur is being carried out by BBMP as part of its Vision-2015 programme. Several of these trees on both sides of the road were planted in the early 20th century.

Sankey Park Walkers Association secretary B.R. Vijaya Kumar said that the arterial Sankey Road will lose its green cover if the road is widened.

"It is going to be a major ecological disaster given that Sankey Tank and surrounding areas cannot bear such a high level of vehicular pollution."

The BBMP has planned to widen the road by 30 ft x 15 ft on both sides which means most trees on the footpaths will face the axe.

"BBMP officials have already marked the places and the trees that will be demolished in the process of road widening. Moreover, the BBMP plan to plant saplings in five years has remained on paper. This will definitely disturb the ecological balance. We have already lost hundreds of trees because of the Metro rail project," added Mr Vijaya Kumar.

Malleswaram Residents' Welfare Association members also questioned the rationale behind executing the project as the road is already wide.

"All those trees on Chowdaiah Road which is close to Indian Institute of Science will be chopped in the process," they said.

Old localities of Bengaluru like Malleswaram, Sadashivanagar and IISc will lose their lung space once the road is widened.

The Association members also protested against the inadequate facilities provided by BBMP to pedestrians to cross the road after the road project was taken up.

RWAs to protest against Sankey Road widening today - Deccan Herald Sunday May 09, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/68420/rwas-protest-against-sankey-road.html 
Proposed six-lane corridor entails felling of about 150 trees

A stretch of trees-lined Sankey Road - Deccan Herald Photo
Seven voluntary organisations and Resident Welfare Associations of Sankey Road, Sadashivanagar and Malleswaram staged a protest on Sunday, May 09, 2010 evening at Sankey Park against the proposed road widening project.

Many trees would be felled for widening Sankey Road. The seven organisations had talks with the public representatives and the BBMP officials insisting them to drop the project. However, when the talks failed, the organisations decided to stage a protest.

The members of Sankey Park Walkers' Association, Sadashivanagar Residents' Welfare Association, Lower Palace Orchards Residents' Welfare Association, Malleswaram Swabhimana Initiative, Hasiru Usiru, Working Professionals of Sadashivanagar and Gayathri Devi Park Residents' Welfare Association staged a protest under an umbrella organisation called 'Save Sankey Park and Road Forum'.

Members of all the Associations assembled at the Sankey Park and formed a human chain in protest against the proposed six lane corridor from Cauvery junction to the CNR Rao Circle.

Speaking to Deccan Herald Dr Rajan said, the proposed corridor at Sankey Road has been unscientifically planned.

Building a signal-free corridor despite the presence of major junctions - Cauvery magic box, Bhashyam signal, 18th cross junction and Maramma Circle - will have disastrous social and ecological consequences for the entire neighbourhood, he said.

Vijayakumar, a resident expressed concern that there were four major schools close to the proposed corridor and the safety of schoolchildren on the six-lane high speed corridor would be a major challenge.

According to the agitators the project will cause damage to the existing green cover on the Sankey Road. Many fully grown trees on this stretch are in imminent danger of being felled. The long-term benefits of this corridor are questionable especially when the metro, monorail and HSRL corridors are being planned in the vicinity, said the members. They also apprehended that the project would cause damage to Sankey Lake.

Sankey Road widening in a week - Deccan Herald, Sunday, June 26, 2011

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/171679/sankey-road-widening-week.html 

Widening from Bhashyam Circle to Malleshwaram 18th Cross will start within a week, despite protests by residents and NGOs.

19 trees would be felled in the second phase of the project from Bhashyam Circle to Malleshwaram 18th Cross

Three houses will be razed

Project cost escalated from Rs 6.5 crore to Rs 8 crore

Passover at Bhashyam Circle from Sankey Road to Malleshwaram 18th Cross or from Sadashivanagar to Vyalikawal

350 trees will be felled from Bhashyam Circle to Yeshwanthapura

Sankey Road widening to begin today - The Hindu, Monday,  Bangalore, June 27, 2011

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article2137848.ece 


Residents of areas around Sankey Road in Bangalore have intensified protest and announced that they will meet Deputy Mayor to sort out the issue. - Photo: K. Gopinathan - The Hindu

Apart from anger over felling of trees for widening, the association members also expressed displeasure over the manner in which some private property had been marked for acquisition allegedly without giving the owners any notice.

62 trees (to be felled between Sankey Park and Maramma Circle)

Deputy Mayor Harish said  that on the stretch between Sankey Park and Maramma Circle, 62 trees will be felled - 13 in Sankey Park and 49 on the Forest Department campus to widen the stretch from its present width of 15 m. The stretch between C.N.R. Rao Circle and Yeshwantpur Circle, which is 23 m to 25 m wide, will be widened to 45 m as per Revised Master Plan 2015.

Sankey Road widening from Thursday - The Hindu, Tuesday, Bangalore, June 28, 2011

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article2141731.ece


Deputy Mayor Harish tells protesting residents they are 'not town planners'.

Contrary to BBMP's claims that only 19 trees will be felled, 82 trees will be actually cut / chopped between Bhashyam Circle and Malleswaram 18th Cross Junction.

Protesters stall tree auction - The Hindu, Bangalore, Thursday, June 30, 2011

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article2146914.ece 


Sankey Road trees to be auctioned by BBMP near Aiyappa Temple to make way for the widening of road, was stopped by residents and activists who hugged the trees giving a cover, made a human chain, shouted slogans at the officials, pleaded with the buyers and finally succeeded in stopping the auction for the day. Photo: K. Gopinathan - The Hindu

The auctioning of trees was stalled by Malleswaram residents on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 amid protests and chaos only to be resumed in the first week of July 2011.

In front of the Aiyyappa Swamy Temple on 18th Cross a small fig tree was put on the block in the morning. In all, 19 trees, including fig, mango, jackfruit and peepul, had been notified for auction by the BBMP for a base price of Rs. 3 lakh.

Adamant officials
Despite Hasiru-Usiru activists appealing for the auction's postponement as they had approached the Tree Authority for relief, BBMP officials went ahead, triggering the protesters' ire.

A few protesters sat around the fig tree in protest.

Sleazy (Vulgar / Perverted) remarks @ women by BJP activists
Some Bharatiya / Bharathiya Janata / Janatha Party (BJP) activists, led by local leader Jagannath, raised slogans in support of road widening. Not only did they object to the stalling of the bidding process but also entered into a slanging match with the residents, making sleazy remarks at women. Meanwhile, Aramane Nagar and Yeshwantpur Councillors Shivaprasad and Muniratna urged the BBMP to go ahead with the widening.

Third party audit of Sankey Road widening imperative - Deepa Kurup, Friday, The Hindu, July 1, 2011

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article2149203.ece 

Tree-lined avenue, characteristic of Bangalore's old roads, will be lost forever.

Arguing against this project is M.N. Sreehari, traffic expert and adviser to the State Government on Traffic, Transport and Infrastructure.

He minces no words in his opposition to this project, the "unscientifically prepared" BDA Master Plan and the "money-spinning racket" infrastructure projects have turned into.

Unbiased review
An unbiased review / assessment / third party audit is needed. The BBMP does not have the expertise. The IISc. or an expert body must be asked to go about this scientifically.

The master plan is no yardstick to go by as "it too was made unscientifically, mostly outsourced to foreign private firms".

It's been made with no real assessment of the situation and is all too random.

Raising ground height over 10 m makes it unsafe and structurally weak
He believes that as an engineering plan, the proposal to raise the height of the ground (over 10 metres) is not a good idea. It is expensive and there are safety risks, which make it structurally weak.

He criticises the BBMP's reasoning in many of the works it undertakes. To randomly widen a road without looking at the alternatives and go about acquiring people's land and homes is disastrous. The nature of the traffic (the bulk) is unidirectional, the traffic situation can be intelligently managed.

Court stay comes too late for trees - Bangalore, Saturday, July 2, 2011 - Photo

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article2151390.ece 


Respite for Malleswaram residents fighting to save the 19 trees on Sankey Road came a little too late. - The Hindu

BBMP's pre-dawn operation leaves only two trees standing

Respite for Malleswaram residents fighting to save the 19 giant trees on Sankey Road came a little too late. Their fight against the road widening project and to save the giant trees has almost gone in vain as most of them had been felled by the time the Karnataka High Court ordered a stay against further cutting on Friday, July 01, 2011 evening.

The tree felling, which had commenced as early as 1.30 a.m. on Friday amidst tight police security and opposition from the residents, was stopped by 6 p.m. following the court order. By then 17 of the 19 trees had been felled.

Secret auction of trees
The BBMP, which secretly auctioned the trees on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 chose to go ahead with the felling even as the hearing on the public interest litigation (PIL), filed by Meenakshi Bharath and five others, was going on in the High Court.

When the Bench, which completed the hearing around 5.50 p.m., wanted to know how many trees had been cut, the BBMP counsel informed that only two trees of the 19 were left standing.

A day later, Sankey Tank road looks forlorn - The Hindu, Bangalore, Sunday, July 3, 2011

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article2153959.ece 


Residents seek BBMP forest official's suspension - The Hindu

A day after 17 trees were felled and protesters briefly detained by the police, the Sankey Tank Bund Road was littered with logs and stumps on Saturday, July 02, 2011. Twigs and small branches lay scattered on the footpath, posing a problem for pedestrians. Just two of the 19 trees are left standing on the stretch between Bhashyam Circle and Malleswaram 18th Cross junction.

Greens and residents opposed to the road-widening petitioned to BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah and Principal Secretary, Department of Forests, Ecology and Environment, Kaushik Mukherjee against BBMP's Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Puttaswamy.

Night felling of trees (non-transparency)
After days of protests, some 10 or 20 residents helplessly watched as the contractors went about felling the trees, branch by branch, during the early hours on Friday, July 01, 2011. "What was the need to take up the felling at night? If the BBMP has followed all procedures as per law, why were the trees felled in the [dark]?" was their refrain.

The campaigners, in their petition against Mr. Puttaswamy, sought his suspension.

Vinay Sreenivasa from Hasiru Usiru said the public auction was called off after citizens objected to it. The demand drafts (DD) of the earnest money deposit (EMD) were also returned to the 13 bidders.

“We got to know later that the trees had been auctioned. There is no transparency. Also, the unwritten rule is that trees are not felled in the night, especially when it rains. This is mainly in the interest of the workers' safety as they use power saws."

BBMP may fell 300 trees - The Hindu, Bangalore, Sunday, July 10,  2011

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article2216001.ece 

To widen the complete stretch from Cauvery Junction till Yeshwanthpur, around 300 trees would be felled.

RWA alleges bid to tarnish image - The Hindu, Bangalore, July 10, 2011

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article2216005.ece 

The Malleswaram Residents' Welfare Association (MRWA) has alleged that some elected representatives have been distributing handbills to the public saying that the Sankey Tank Bund Road widening work being undertaken by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has the support of the MRWA, which is far from true.

MRWA has lodged a complaint with the Vyalikaval Police Station in this connection.

Association president B.R. Gopala Rao, in a press release, accused some elected representatives of vested interests by trying tarnishing the MRWA's image through the handbills, which has no full address of the publishers nor of the printing press.

MRWA opposes the tree felling and joined the protest against it.

Human chain against widening of road - The Hindu, Bangalore, Monday, July 11, 2011

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article2218157.ece 

College students and residents on Sunday, July 10, 2011 formed a human chain outside the Sankey Tank Bund Road here, opposing the proposed widening of the stretch between Bhashyam Circle and Sankey Tank Park.

Sankey Road project threatens school? - Mohit M. Rao, The Hindu, Bangalore, Saturday, July 16, 2011

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article2231912.ece 

Amid the emotions of loss and confusion over the land Stella Maris School would lose in the Sankey Road widening project, there is mounting concern over the school's future.

If the proposed road does become a reality, it would come within five feet of a newly constructed classroom block.

"It would be impossible for an educational institution to function with the noise and pollution of a major road so close to the classroom," said one of the Sisters teaching at the 54-year-old convent.

Stella Maris School's fear
Stella Maris has nearly 2,800 students, and the school fears that the process of widening the road would be hazardous for the children.

A part of the school would resemble a construction site, the authorities said.

"The noise and dust from the project will not only make it difficult to conduct classes but also adversely affect the children's health," said the Sister. "Workers going in and out of the school will pose a security problem, especially in a girls' convent."

Flooding threat due to damaged pipelines or Sankey Tank / Bund
With major water pipelines traversing near the road, and the man-made Sankey Tank in close proximity to the school, there is a fear of flooding during the widening.

"If the pipelines or the Sankey bund is damaged during construction, the school would be submerged," said Biju Bruno, a parent who is campaigning against the road widening on the school's behalf.

No notice yet to school management
There is ambiguity about the quantum of the school's property that will be lost in the project.

It's not been served a written notice yet, and the Sisters rely solely on newspaper reports where BBMP officials are quoted.

Initially 32 metres (from the centre of Sankey Road) was marked, which would mean the demolition of a major part of classroom blocks. Later, the corporation made fresh markings at 21 metres.

While the markings are a grim reminder of the buildings that would be demolished, what is certain is that at whatever the marking, the green cover lining the school property would go.

BBMP claim
While BBMP claimed that the school had encroached upon nearly 12,000 square feet of its land abutting the Sankey Tank bund road, the school denies it, saying it has been using the land for the past 54 years with the civic authority's consent.

School fears the process of widening the road will be hazardous for the children

BBMP claims the school encroached upon nearly 12,000 square feet of its land

Fading magic could cost city's taxpayers Rs. 1.5 crore - Chitra V. Ramani, The Hindu, Bangalore, July 16, 2011

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article2231908.ece 


City's first magic box may be casualty to road widening (maladministration / misgovernance and 21st century Tughlaq / Tughlak Durbar in BBMP)

BBMP admits that the city's first "magic box", launched with much fanfare in February 2008, could be either removed/widened during the widening work on Sankey Road (Bhashyam Circle to Yeshwantpur).

The 4.5 metre-wide magic box is a bottleneck, its narrow passage leading to daily jams during morning and evening peak hours. The magic box was constructed using what was touted to be cost-effective technology in 35 days at a cost of Rs. 1.5 crore. Though it overshot the earlier and very ambitious target of 72 hours, the civic authority hailed it as an achievement.

Protest staged against move to widen Sankey Road again - The Hindu, Bangalore, Monday, July 18, 2011

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article2236434.ece 


Volunteers climb tree to protest against BBMP for cutting of trees on Sankey Road widening in Bangalore on Sunday, July 17, 2011. Photo:V Sreenivasa Murthy - The Hindu

"The BBMP is talking about a signal-free corridor. That will only make things more difficult for pedestrians" a resident said.

Residents come out to save playground - The Hindu, Bangalore, Monday, July 25, 2011 - Photo

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article2292038.ece 
 

They had gathered to protest against the proposed widening of Sankey Road that will eat into the century-old playground on Malleswaram 18th Cross. Photo: K. Murali Kumar - The Hindu

Protest staged against widening of Sankey Road

"Do not steal playground from the kids/children", "Save the Playground” and "Say no to road-widening, save our ground" read the placards held by Malleswaram residents, young sportspersons and students here on Sunday, July 24, 2011 morning.

More than 100 people, including school and college students and members of the Disc and Football Club, gathered to protest against the BBMP's move to acquire a portion of the ground.

Renuka Prasad of the Disc and Football Club urged people to come together and protect the playground.

People who have been using the playground for the past 35 years among the protestors.

The protesters claimed that the playground had shrunk since portions were given to BWSSB, CET Cell and a few educational institutions.

No appeasing their achy breaky hearts - Sanchi Illuri, The Hindu, Bangalore, Wednesday, July 27, 2011

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article2299051.ece


In vain: A tree-lover takes a picture of a tree that was marked for felling on Sankey Road recently. File Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy - The Hindu

TOP ARTICLE: A Streetcar Named Disaster Times of India, Friday, December 25, 2009
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/A-Streetcar-Named-Disaster/articleshow/5375129.cms 
Cars are at the heart of urban traffic problems
In London, a congestion tax on private cars levied in decreasing radials from the town centre makes people think twice before embarking on a journey into town by car.

Prohibitive parking rates in Manhattan achieve much the same goal, making it unfeasible to use private cars. In Singapore, the registry of private vehicles takes the form of an auction.

The car is now symptomatic of all that is wrong with urban life: pollution, overcrowding, congestion and urban blight. The inability of city roads to accommodate car has produced unmanageable congestion, jams and increasing time periods for travel.

With growing car populations and a distressing displacement of the pedestrian, there is a yawning disparity between the space required and the space available in the city.

Along the East Coast of the US, many communities like Reston and Columbia are designed only for pedestrians. Cars are restricted to lots closer to the highway.

Garage may be made mandatory to own car Deccan Herald Wednesday, October 27, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/107879/garage-may-made-mandatory-own.html 
Legal framework proposed to reduce vehicular population in Bangalore

Residents should be prohibited from purchasing and/or owning a car unless and until they have a garage to park the vehicle.

A rule should be enacted, implemented and enforced to prohibit people from owning a four-wheeler if they do not have a garage.

Laws should make owning private vehicles more difficult so as to reduce the vehicular population and increase the use of public transport.

Cause of congestion (private vehicles)
There were about 7.5 million people and 3.75 million vehicles in Bangalore City. About 6,000 buses facilitate travel of four million people while autos transport about two million. The balance of two million people own about 3.7 million vehicles leading to congestion.

Public transport, buses for instance, must be attractive, comfortable, clean, safe and have an environmental profile, speed to take passengers quickly, traffic information and direct connectivity.

Links to other related petitions on the road widening / widenings in Bangalore
01) http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/no-to-road-widening-in-bangalore/
Say no to road widening Online! (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/no-to-road-widening-in-bangalore) 
Say No to Bangalore road widening Online 
http://www.commonfloor.com/stories/say-no-to-bangalore-road-widening-online-506 
DNA: Bangalore - Bangalore road widening rage goes online - Aparajita Ray - Wednesday, August 11, 2010 
http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_bangalore-road-widening-rage-goes-online_1421805-all 
02) http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-pedestrian-infrastructure/ 

Condensed, unfeatured and text only versions of the above related petitions
01) Say no to road widening in Bangalore was created by Syed Tanveeruddin and written by Syed Tanveeruddin http://www.petitiononline.com/roadwide/ 

Links to similar or related petitions by others
01) Save Sankey Road and Park created by Save Sankey Road and Park Forum and written by Forum Members http://www.petitiononline.com/sankey 

02) Stop and re-evaluate illegal and irrational ongoing road-widening work in Bangalore was created by and written by Vinay Sreenivasa http://www.petitiononline.com/dntwiden/ 

Academics, scientists condemn tree felling - The Hindu, Bangalore, Friday, July 15, 2011

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article2229734.ece 

Scientists and academics a petitioned the BBMP describing road-widening as "misguided", "environmentally destructive" and a "short-term solution" to traffic congestion.

They say that expanding roads "is only going to increase the traffic and will be counter-productive" and the BBMP should regulate street parking and impose congestion tax.

The road-widening policy will render the streets devoid of any shade or other ecosystem services, creating a sterile and concretised urban environment unhealthy for city dwellers, says the letter.

Crucial ecological role of roadside trees (reduce temperature and mitigate air pollution)

On the ecological role of roadside trees, the academics point out that they are crucial for a city, reducing temperature and mitigating air pollution, as well as providing important ecological habitats and corridors for many migratory and endangered species.

The trees that were felled along Sankey tank included Syzigium, tamarind and three species of Ficus - all important in supporting urban biodiversity.

The signatories question the proposal to widen 216 roads in the city, and call for a "thorough, scientific assessment of environmental and social impacts of projects" to substantiate claims that tree felling will reduce traffic congestion.

Planting small / tiny saplings @ remote locations to compensate for tree lines / huge individual trees felled (cut / axed / razed)elsewhere critiqued

On BBMP's claims of plant two to three saplings for each tree felled for road widening, the statement points out that the saplings are not planted on the same roads where felling is done, but remote locations.

Moreover, the survival rate is poor, and it takes at least a couple of decades for them to grow to provide anywhere near the same environmental and ecological benefits that these large felled trees provide today.

The academics offered to help put together an interdisciplinary, scientific panel of internationally and nationally recognised experts in traffic and transport, ecology, urban planning and human well-being to assist with a search for a sustainable alternative.
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This petition has been addressed to the Hon'ble Supreme Court (SC) of India, National Advisory Council (NAC), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC), President, Prime Minister (PM), Karnataka Governor / Guv, Karnataka Chief Minister (CM), Karnataka Chief Secretary (CS), Principal Secretary Forests, Environment and Ecology (FEE), Karnataka Forest Department (KFD), PCCF, APCCF, CCF, CF, DCF, ACF, Bruhat / Bruhath Bangalore / Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Union Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), Karnataka Lokayukta, Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA), Bangalore Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA), Karnataka Urban Development Department (KUDD), Department of Town Planning (DTP), Karnataka State Horticulture Department (KSHD), Karnataka Transport Department (KTD) and Union Ministry of Surface Transport (GoI).

Links