Bangalore:
It is not just the city of Delhi which is facing turmoil due to mega construction projects. Even Bangalore has paid a high price with the loss of hundreds of trees and dug up roads that make the traffic in city even worse.
The city's Metro project is inching along - and like all megaprojects it is leaving in its wake hundreds of people whose property had to make way for what authorities say is the greater good.
In Bangalore's South End circle, business owners insist that despite the fact that they had a stay on the demolition, the authorities still went ahead with it.
"The metro officials have no respect nor do they apply or abide by the human rights act. They literally pulled us and almost all the property owners were taken to the Basavanagudi police station and they were kept there. They started demolishing here where all the owners were in the police station," said Shilpa M., a building owner.
A restaurant owner's daughter, Dr Priyanka adds that all they asked for was for the authorities to show them the order and carry on with the demolition.
"We never said we won't give. We are not against Metro is what we are trying to say but still we wanted it to go according to the order - that's it. And after that around three or four buildings were demolished yesterday and our building New Shanti Sagar is now getting demolished," she said.
The Metro authorities insist they have the paperwork in order - and the state government seems to feel you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
Karnataka Chief Minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa says, "If at all you want Metro you must take risk na.. Without demolishing few houses, trees, how can you expect me to complete the metro work?'
Change can be difficult - and the upheaval caused by megaprojects can get people wondering if they are worth it. While many, who struggle with Bangalore's often nightmarish traffic, hope the Metro will make things better, others still doubt the efficacy of the project.