HC takes notice of PIL for flyover near Kolathur junction amidst concerns over B'luru-Chennai express corridor construction

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The High Court has issued notices in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) advocating for the construction of a flyover near Kolathur Junction in Hoskote Taluk along the Bengaluru-Chennai Express Corridor route.

The PIL, filed by 13 residents, including far mer KV Ravikumar representing villages like Kolathur, Appasandra, Solur, and Oorahalli in Hoskote Taluk of Bengaluru Rural District, prompted the issuance of notices to both the Central and State Governments.

During the hearing, M Sivaprakash, counsel for the petitioners, emphasised the expected hardships faced by rural residents due to the construction of the corridor.

To address these concerns, the division bench, led by Chief Justice PS Dinesh Kumar and Justice TG Sivashankar Gowda, directed emergency notices to be sent to relevant authorities, including the Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Chairman of the National Highways Authority of India, the Director of the BengaluruChennai Express Corridor Project, and the Bengaluru Rural District Collector.

The next hearing is scheduled for March 1. Kolathur, a crucial village in Bengaluru Rural District, serves as a significant transportation hub for approximately 20 surrounding villages, ranking second in milk production within the district.

Additionally, the village is home to the District Mother and Child Hospital, accommodating an average of 1,000 vehicles daily, primarily consisting of school buses and vehicles transporting essential goods.

However, the construction of the Bengaluru-Chennai Express Corridor Road has presented challenges, with a link road obstructing access to the main gate of Kolathur village.

Despite appeals to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), no action has been taken, prompting the petitioners to seek intervention from the High Court.