The authorities have received nearly 500 objections and pleas from environmental activists over the loss of around 4,000 trees due to the under-construction ORR-Airport Namma Metro project.
The 56 km ‘ORR-Airport Metro,’ will connect Central Silk Board Junction to Kempegowda International Airport via KR Puram and Hebbal. The ORR-Airport Metro will be built at Rs 14,844 crore and will eventually serve 16 lakh commuters daily.
The ORR-Airport Metro project will comprise two new metro lines (Phase 2-A and Phase 2-B), mostly elevated, with a total length of 56 km along Outer Ring Road (ORR) and National Highway 44 between Central Silk Board and Kempegowda International Airport.
“Since May 2021, we have issued public notices and for each notice, around 100-120 objections or suggestions were received. We have replied to them after seeking necessary information from the BMRCL,” Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) Govindaraju told The Hindu.
“After conducting a field inspection, experts in the committee will come out with further instructions on the issue. The forest cell of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike issues public notices for the removal of identified trees located on the median as well as along the side of the road. For rest including private properties, public notices are issued by the DCF of Bengaluru Urban district,” he added.
There is growing opposition to infrastructure projects in major cities of India from environmental activists. Recently, more than 300 citizens in Mumbai have signed a letter opposing the proposal to fell and transplant trees for the bullet train and the Metro 7A line projects.