Indiranagar Residents Say Rs 1,300-Crore Elevated Corridor Threatens Over 1,000 Trees

Indiranagar residents have raised alarms over a proposed Rs 1,300-crore elevated corridor project, presenting an independent survey that claims the infrastructure work threatens 1,010 trees. The findings, which far exceed the official estimate of 235 trees, were shared during a recent meeting in the locality with city-based environmentalists and mobility experts.

The proposed elevated corridor is planned to run between Old Madras Road and Hosur Road, passing through Domlur. According to the residents' assessment, the project threatens not only the local green cover but also several age-old open spaces, neighbourhood landmarks, and community assets.

Residents argued that the project has not been planned as part of Bengaluru’s long-term mobility vision. They alleged that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project relies primarily on a 14-hour traffic volume survey conducted on the Intermediate Ring Road at Domlur.

Locals pointed out that the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) was not consulted in preparing the proposal, and observations submitted by the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) were not incorporated into the plans.

Indiranagar is home to nearly 1.5 lakh residents and over 1,000 businesses, all of whom face significant economic and social consequences if the corridor proceeds in its current form.

The independent assessment also questioned the financial assumptions of the DPR, which estimates an Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) of 16.8% based on vehicles maintaining an average speed of 60 kmph over the next 25 years. Residents argued these assumptions do not reflect the traffic realities of Bengaluru. Furthermore, they noted that the reported Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 1.99 excludes delays and costs imposed on local traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, and businesses operating along the corridor.

While residents clarified they are not opposed to infrastructure development or improved mobility, they demanded that projects of this scale be supported by rigorous technical analysis, transparent stakeholder consultations, and a credible assessment of alternatives. The group has called for an independent traffic audit, comprehensive stakeholder consultations before work orders are issued, and an independent stress test of the project's economic viability.