The Hindu : Karnataka News : Metro Rail project to start in 12 months

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 24, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Metro Rail project to start in 12 months

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, MARCH 23. Work on the proposed Metro Rail for Bangalore is likely to start within 12 months, the Industries and Infrastructure Minister, P.G.R. Sindhia, informed the Legislative Council today.

Replying to Ramachandra Gowda of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Basavaraj Bommai (Janata Dal - United), who raised the issue, the Minister noted that before the work can commence, a company to undertake the project has to be formed and it should go in for financial closure.

Mr. Sindhia ruled out entrusting the construction work on BOOT (build, operate, own, transfer) basis as suggested by Mr. Bommai.

Land acquisition

He said land owned by the NGEF in Byappanahalli and some Defence land have to be acquired. He will take up the issue of acquisition of NGEF land at a meeting of the Cabinet as the matter is before the High Court.

Mr. Sindhia said he has discussed with the Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, the question of acquisition of 152 acres of Defence land in the city for the project.

Funds

He said the Project Investment Board (PIB) of the Union Government and the Expenditure Review Committee of the State Government have approved the project. The Planning Commission has given its in-principle approval to project, which will cost Rs. 5,605 crores as estimated by the UTI Bank. The State Government has collected Rs. 635 crores through infrastructure cess and it will collect an additional Rs. 437 crores in five years. The State expects to receive Rs. 1,146 crores from the Centre for the project, he added.

Mr. Sindhia said the PIB is meeting again to give its final clearance at the earliest. Another requirement pertains to the enactment of the Metro Railway Act, which the Railway Ministry will introduce in about two months.

Fears allayed

Allaying fears that the project may cause undue hardship to the people when work is in progress, the Minister he is ready to hold meetings with legislators to give a presentation and reassure them. The Chairman of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, E. Sridharan, who was one of those responsible for the execution of the Konkan Railway project in record time, will be associated with the Bangalore Metro Rail project, he added.

Mr. Bommai suggested that information technology companies who will benefit from Metro Rail be asked to contribute. V.S. Ugrappa (Congress) spoke.

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