With the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) issuing a letter of acceptance for the controversial steel flyover, the city’s scientists have also now come out against the construction.

Deepika Burli reports for TOI that the flyover’s design will drastically have an effect on the planetarium located in Basaveshwara circle.

After public protests against the steel flyover and even writing to MLAs and MPs on the matter, citizens groups on Wednesday wrote to L&T urging it to withdraw its involvement in the project.

More voices against the construction seems to be mounting, with the city’s scientists coming down heavily on the project.

Space scientist and former Isro chief UR Rao urged the Chief Minister to change the design of the flyover, since the flyover will affect the astronomical view.  

“The biggest concern is that the proposed structure will be constructed too close to the planetarium, right at Basaveshwara Circle, where the flyover begins. If this happens, it will obstruct the view of stars and planets. We selected this land and strategically constructed the planetarium here 25 years ago because it enabled the best astronomical view. However, with the steel flyover coming up, there will be no way students can enjoy looking at stars and planets,” Prof Rao was quoted as saying.

Prof. Rao, who met Chief Minister and officials of the BDA on Wednesday reportedly said that the officials agreed to consider other alternatives.

“We have been running this educational system for years and have not failed in grasping students' attention and piquing their interest in astronomy. It's for the benefit of students that the planetarium be allowed to work the way it has alwasy been,” he said.