Karnataka govt to breathe life into abandoned controversial steel flyover project
Bengaluru, Jan 1: The Karnataka government Tuesday decided to review and take up a multi-billion steel bridge project here, which it had scrapped owing to massive public protests in the city.
The previous Siddaramaiah government had cleared the steel bridge from Chalukya Circle to Esteem Mall at an estimated cost of Rs 2,200 crore, but abandoned it after public outcry over allegations of lack of transparency.
"Earlier, the Siddaramaiah government had given nod to the steel flyover. The project was brought to a halt for various reasons. Now again we have decided to review and take up the project in the public interest," Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said.
However, this time the government has decided to move cautiously as it intends to seek public opinion before starting the project work.
He said all information would be put in the public domain so that people can analyse the project, give suggestions and provide other information.
"There is a dire need for the bridge. That's why, the detailed project report, design of the plan, estimates and all that will be put in the public domain for their perusal.
"I will also invite suggestions and information on it. Then only, we will table the proposal before the government for final decision," Parameshwara said.
Parameshwara said the steel bridge would reduce travel time from the city to the Kempegowda International Airport from 40-45 minutes to 20-22 minutes.
He said many people miss their flight due to traffic on the Ballari road that leads to the international airport.
Calling it 'steel monstrosity', critics of the project said the government would end up spending more on painting the structure to avoid it getting rusted.
They also said the flyover would take away the aesthetics of Bengaluru.
However, the deputy chief minister said there were political reasons too behind opposition to the project and he was ready to sort out all the problems and shortcomings in it.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
