Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Namma Raste Walk To Reclaim Bengaluru

Namma Raste Walk To

Reclaim Bengaluru



Do you know? BBMP is investing about Rs.4000 Crores to widen 140 prime roads totaling 400 kms. Apart from this Metro Railway is investing about Rs. 7000 Crores just for arranging the travel facility for only 5 percent of Bengaluru population! If this huge amount of 11,000 Crore Rupees invested for buses and better road design, the need for Metro will disappear and hundreds of trees which are being felled down for widening of roads could be saved.

-Nethrakere Udaya Shankara

Environment Support Group with the co operation of Hasiru Usiru, a network of community organizations, residents associations, project affected communities, voluntary organizations and individuals concerned about protecting equitable access to public social spaces such as roads and parks in Bengaluru, has organized 'Namma Raste Walk to Reclaim Bangaluru at from Lalbagh West Gate to Town Hall on 9th November 2008, Sunday at 11 am and requested all to participate in it.

The key purpose is to highlight the extensive damage that road-widening and Metro projects are causing to the city, destroying in the process lives, livelihoods and thousands of trees.  This walk is also to demand an inclusive planning process in shaping our city and ensuring that short-sighted, elite induced, infrastructure development, does not cause irreversible damage to the city and ruin the lives of thousands.

The Walk is to highlight that there are many progressive and intelligent solutions to the current problems of traffic congestion that do not involve destruction of thousands of trees, businesses and homes. 

The Walk is to emphasise the importance of including public consultations as required by law in road widening and Metro construction proposals.  (Currently, both projects are being rushed through in blatant violation of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, amongst others.)
The Walk is to emphasise that the Metro is a solution that can work only if integrated with bus based transport modes.  (Building an elevated Metro will certainly ruin the city forever.)
The Walk is to assert our right to participate in decision making relating to projects of our city.

To mobilise support for this Walk, Hasiru Usiru has developed a flyer ‘PARYAYA’ has published it here.


Organisers of The Walk have requested all to print or forward the flyer and kindly use it in mobilizing the wide public to ensure maximum participation in the walk. You may also download b/w posters from the website: www.esgindia.org, print them on A-4 sheets and post them on your organisational and community notice boards.

Hasiru Usiru has also requested to contribute to the expenses involved in this initiative.

Hasiru Usiru members are keen to meet with your community or organisation and explain why this Walk is so necessary now.  Please confirm if you would like one of the Hasiru Usiru volunteers to meet with your community and make a presentation.

Interested can contact Nandini, Divya or Sharmila at Environment Support Group.  Email: divyarrs@esgindia.org / nandini@esgindia.org / bellursharmila@yahoo.com.  Call them at Environment Support Group on (080)26531339, (080) 22441977 (b/w 10:30 AM and 5:30 PM) on all working days for details of participation or to make a donation.

Interested can also contact and visit: Environment Support Group, 105, East End B Main Road, Jayanagar 9th Block East, Bangalore 560069. INDIA
Tel: 91-80-22441977/26531339, Voice/Fax: 91-80-26534364

 Join to Save Namma Rasthe.. Namma Uru.. Hasire Usiru! 

(Our Roads.... Our City... Greenery is Life's Breath)

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