Wider roads at Bangalore University, and not one tree to be touched

After the Gandhi Krishi Vignyan Kendra within the University of Agricultural Sciences and the Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University near Hebbal, it is now the turn of the Bangalore University. The Jnanabharathi campus of the Bangalore University, located near Nagarbhavi, is all set to have road-widening works. Although there are estimates that nearly 100 small trees could be affected, vice-chancellor N Prabhu Dev has sought that not one tree be touched.
The chairman of the standing committee on major works of the

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), H Ravindra, and other members inspected the campus on Friday and announced the decision to widen the 5km stretch of road through the campus, from the existing 12m to 24. Three roads running through the campus are set to be widened, at an estimated cost of Rs12.61 crore.

“Three roads, which run through the campus, would be widened. The 2,400m road from Mysore Road to Outer Ring Road near Ullal, which passes through the Jnanabharathi campus, will be widened. The connecting road, which is 2,540m from Bangalore University Main Road to Nagarabhavi Junction, and the connecting road which is 500m long from Bangalore University to Mariyappanapalya, will also be widened,” Ravindra said.

To satisfy the greens, however, and deal with opponents to the road-widening project, the BBMP has said that it would provide two cycle tracks on both sides of the road. The cycle tracks would be two metres wide.

BBMP officials said that the Bangalore University vice-chancellor had written to the BBMP commissioner in October 2010, requesting that the road which runs through the campus be repaired. The university did not have the resources to undertake repair of the roads at regular intervals, and sought the intervention of the BBMP.

BBMP officials surveyed the roads within the campus to find that the side drains and culverts were choked, and the footpaths left unpaved. Bangalore University is expected to provide Rs1 crore towards the repair of the roads. This sum was raised by the university as it provided land to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for the laying of a water pipeline within the campus, for the supply of Cauvery water to the neighbourhood.

The Bangalore University will conduct a quality test on the roads.

This is a procedure that is usually outsourced. The cost of the quality checks is estimated at Rs50 lakh.

Don’t touch our trees, and stay off the roads at night
Even though the Bangalore University would like the road widening work to proceed, it has clearly requested the BBMP to refrain from axing trees within the campus. There is also a proposal to ban traffic from plying on roads within the Jnanabharathi campus at night, between 10pm and 6am.

“We have plans to close the road at night. The entrances from Nagarabhavi and railway underbridge at Mysore Road will be closed to traffic. We will have to discuss the matter with BBMP officials,” said Dr N Prabhu Dev, vice-chancellor, Bangalore University.

A few years ago, BU had tried to close the road permanently, allowing only university-bound traffic to enter. However, as there were protests from the public, the university was not allowed to close its doors to regular commuters who used the roads as thoroughfare.

The Bangalore University has undertaken a programme of planting one lakh saplings within the campus this year. It is loath to allow the BBMP to fell trees to widen roads. Prabhu Dev said, “The road belongs to the BBMP, and the officials have discussed the road-widening works with us. We will not allow them to cut a single tree.”