Expecting civil disobedience by citizen activism for civil causes

 BENGALURU: The problems that currently being faced within the city such as, the crawling traffic on potholed roads, stench from the growing garbage mounds or lakes laced with sewage, which are unlikely to disappear in the new year. Also by looking at the bright side, a change is in the atmosphere, as the citizen activism is not likely to let go off a lax official or the indifferent government.    

Urban expert V Ravichandar said that, “Cross-pollination of ideas is already happening, with residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) from across the city sharing knowhow. The bulk of citizen activism is currently happening in the online space and it will soon get strong on the ground too.”

“Citizen groups have formed local WhatsApp groups and added us. They expect us to be active in the group and track all developments. We try to exit the groups but they keep adding us. 2019 is a make or break year if the government decides to go ahead with the elevated corridor construction,” warned transport activist Vinay Sreenivasa.

However, the Rs 25,000 crore elevated corridor project has already divided the citizens, as many have been rooting for it to unclog the roads within the city.