Bengaluru's urban planning is under fire as a recent citizen-led survey reveals a staggering discrepancy in the number of trees endangered by a proposed elevated corridor. While the official detailed project report (DPR) claims only 89 trees will be cut, local residents have documented at least 749 trees along the corridor's route. This revelation not only highlights potential negligence in environmental assessments but also raises broader questions about the city's commitment to sustainable development.
The survey, conducted by over 100 residents using the Urban Tree Map application, indicates that nearly 90% of the identified trees are healthy, including species vital for local biodiversity. This grassroots effort underscores a growing public sentiment against what many see as a car-centric approach to urban infrastructure that prioritizes traffic flow over ecological integrity.
Moreover, the findings come at a time when Bengaluru grapples with severe air quality issues and urban heat, exacerbated by rampant deforestation. The city has already lost significant green cover to development projects, and this latest revelation could galvanize further opposition to the flyover plan, which critics argue merely shifts congestion rather than solving it.
