“Why should there be a steel flyover or elevated corridors when we can have an elevated Metro rail connectivity at a cheaper cost and with better passenger-carrying capacity,” questioned Ashish Verma, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore professor and mobility expert on Sunday (20 January), reports Times of India.

He raised the question while speaking at a public discourse organised by Save Bangalore Committee, a citizen’s forum which is opposing the Karnataka government’s proposal to revive the steel flyover project and build elevated corridors.

“The elevated corridors will not only reduce the city’s green cover, but also result in increased vehicular emissions,” the professor added.

Verma suggested expanding Metro rail network as an alternative to the steel flyover. Former would not just be more cost effective and of higher passenger-capacity, but also reduce vehicular emission and the commute time. “The government should think wisely and go for a Metro rail corridor. This way, people will start depending on public transport, and the traffic menace caused by private vehicles will reduce,” he said.

“The elevated steel flyover project is of the elites, for the elites and by the elites. The government is pushing for these projects only because their children are the contractors and are driving these projects. While these projects will create more space for cars, the common man will be made to suffer due to crumbling public transport,” said Prof TV Ramachandra from the centre for ecological sciences, IISc.

Prof Verma also said that the focus of the government should be based on a push-pull concept where they attract people to use public transport system rather than private vehicles.

The experts criticised the proposed toll taxes on elevated corridors saying that Bengaluru would soon become the ‘toll city’. They all stressed the need for suburban trains, Metro link, and affordable bus services.