TenderSure is elite capture of governance, say protesters

Citizens and community organisations took to the streets against the “unconstitutional” approval and implementation of the ongoing TenderSURE projects within the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits.

Raising slogans and carrying placards with messages such as ‘Stop corrupting the City through TenderSURE roads, ‘BPAC-Pack up’, among others, the protestors demanded scientific execution of the project and proper consultation of roadwork and design of TenderSURE (Specification for Urban Road Execution). The protestors, who gathered on St Mark’s Road, distributed pamphlets to educate the public on the dangerous consequences of allowing this project in the City.

“The ongoing TenderSURE road project is a symbol of elite capture of governance. A group of people led by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon, Ramesh Ramanathan of Janaagraha, Janaadhar, Janalakshmi among other organisations got the project approved within 45 minutes after giving a presentation at former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda’s house in 2011. None of the elected representatives of the BBMP were present during the approval,” pointed out noted eco-activist Dr Kshitij Urs.

Some of the street vendors, who took part in the protest, said they have been evicted by the Palike and none of them was informed about it. “It is an extremely expensive project. The worst part is that the design of the project is unscientific which will in turn affect the citizens. The footpaths are wider than the roads. The local community has not been consulted before implementing the project. The Palike officials have been told not to interfere in road designing  by the State government officials. The project is a multi-crore scam that involves encroachment of footpaths by corporate houses,” said M R Prabhakar from Forum for Urban Commons and Governance.

Members of People’s movements, Unions, community organisations and individuals also demanded democratisation of governance and to build a socially just, inclusive and a safe city for all.