Mysuru: Two weeks after work on widening and straightening the 450m-stretch of Hunsur Road near Kalamandir began amid protests from public and environmentalists, citizens have written to the Union road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari , and request him to withdraw the project. The activists' decision to seek Gadkari's intervention comes at a time when they are weighing all possible legal options to put a halt to the controversial Rs 12 crore-project, which is likely to see many trees along the verdant thoroughfare axed.In its letter to the minister, Mysuru Grahakara Parishat (MGP), which is spearheading the agitation, stated that the project was ill-conceived and unnecessary. In the letter, the citizens' forum has also pointed out that the stretch was a heritage road, and added that the widening project was in violation of norms.The letter, which has also been sent to chief minister Siddaramaiah, district in-charge minister HC Mahadevappa and Mysuru MP Pratap Simha, stated, "The 450m-stretch of Hunsur road has been designated 'Heritage Road' in the 2031 master plan for Mysuru. The project will violate and destroy the heritage of the road."While Mahadevappa, who is also the public works minister, and Simha, are arguing that the project will help bring down the number of accidents on the road, activists and traffic experts have contested the rationale. While road design engineers have suggested speed-breakers as a plausible solution, traffic experts, including former traffic cops, have mooted building traffic islands as an alternative.The 450m-stretch marked for widening is a four-lane road with a median, and has automated traffic lights at both ends - at Valmiki Road and Kalamandira junctions, the letter read. Admitting that the stretch had seen many accidents - fatal and otherwise - the forum attributed these to over-speeding. "City traffic police have installed a signboard that states the speed limit is 40kmph, but most motorists ignore the rule and drive at speeds in excess of the prescribed limit leading to accidents," said members of the MGP.The activists said that an effective way to prevent accidents on the road would be to construct IRC-standard rumble-strips and speed-breakers."If the project is executed, it will result in Rs 12 crore being wasted, which can be better spent on repairing and maintaining other roads in the city, and ensuring smooth vehicular movement and reducing fuel consumption," those opposed to the project said.Excerpt from MGP's letter to GadkariThere are many roads in Mysuru in need to improvement by way of construction of proper and adequate longitudinal and cross drainage, which could result in increasing the endurance of the road's surface. Pavements also need to be constructed on many roads, which will reduce accidents, and the surface of the roads could be renewed. The sum of Rs 12 crore could be spent on such projects that have obvious benefits for the public.- MM Shenoi | Secretary, Mysuru Grahakara Parishat

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