Candidates field queries in Mahadevapura

The first open forum for MLA candidates from Mahadevapura was held on Sunday, where they not only fielded questions from residents but also sought to propagate their ideas on how to develop the sprawling ill-planned constituency.

While the candidates were presented with a citizens’ manifesto, almost unilaterally, all candidates present agreed that traffic, water management and lake conservation remained the main issues.

Arvind Limbavalli, incumbent BJP MLA, blamed the “bad” Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) of the State government for not allowing the road widening.

“Land owners are not willing to give up land. Instead, the solution is elevated corridors, metro and suburban railway,” he said.

A.C. Srinivas, the Congress candidate, said that first step to reducing traffic was to ban water tankers in the areas.

“Commercial vehicles should not be allowed outside Outer Ring Road, while commercial buildings should not be allowed on main roads. Moreover, footpaths should be encouraged while evelated roads will reduce the traffic,” he said.

Bhaskar Prasad from Aam Aadmi Party, Sathish K. from Janata Dal (Secular) and Ramesh Chander from Swaraj India were present.