The Centre on Tuesday said that it has not provided the environmental clearance for the controversial steel flyover project in Bengaluru, Deccan Chronicle reported.

During the Winter Session in Parliament, Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrashekhar had asked whether the environment ministry has provided the clearance. In response, the Minister of State for Environment and Climate Change (Independent Charge) said, “Environmental clearance by the Karnataka Government for the Steel Flyover from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal has not been provided. The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority Karnataka has not provided any clearance on the matter.”


In the same session, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Mansukh Lal Mandaviya, said permission from the National Highway Authority of India is a must if the project involves national highways, reported The Times of India.

The Rs 1,791-crore flyover was proposed by the Bengaluru Development Authority. Once completed, the steel flyover would be the first of its kind in the country. However, it has faced criticism from over 5,000 residents and activists who have said that the project would require cutting of over 800 trees. On October 28, the National Green Tribunal issued a temporary stay for four weeks on the project.

The project was handed over to contractor Larsen and Toubro a day before the NGT put a stay on it. Karnataka Chief Minister had earlier hailed the project and said that the construction of the flyover will be undertaken as it has “public support”.