The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Metro rail work to begin in a few days

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Metro rail work to begin in a few days

Staff Reporter

A transport system suitable for the city will be adopted, says Chief Minister

H.D. Kumaraswamy

BANGALORE: Work on the Bangalore Metro Rail Project is likely to be launched shortly with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday directing the officials concerned to initiate measures and complete the formalities connected with it.

Speaking to presspersons after a discussion with the Chairman of the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority K.N. Srivastava on the project, the Chief Minister said he has directed the officials to expedite the project. "The project should take off within a few days and not months," he added.

Though he did not elaborate whether it will be broad gauge or standard gauge tracks, he said it will be a system suitable to the city. All that he wants is to save the people from the traffic congestion on the city's roads.

While the Union Government will provide its share of Rs. 1,600 crores, Japan Bank will give a loan.

The State Government will release the balance amount. Asked whether the Union Government's share is less than what was expected (Rs. 12,000 crores), as feared by the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, the Chief Minister said it is a sensitive issue.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said what is good for the public will be implemented. He said he has asked for a technical report on the Metro Rail Project, and the State Government is awaiting clearance from the Union Government.

On the power situation in Bangalore city, he said there is no problem as of now. In rural areas, the farmers will get three-phase power for 12 hours a day. He said he has convened a meeting of officials of Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited on Thursday to discuss the power situation.

`Agenda for governance'

The first meeting of the coordination committee of the Janata Dal (S) and the Bharatiya Janata Party will be held on Friday.

The two-member committee consisting of Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and himself will consider the "Agenda for governance" to be adopted by the Government.

On the Bidadi power plant, the Chief Minister said that it is facing shortage of gas.

The Government, he said, is thinking of having a tie-up with the private sector.

He said he has convened a meeting of officials of Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, Bangalore Development Authority and the city municipal councils on Wednesday to discuss ways to solve the problem of infrastructure in Bangalore city. Another meeting on developing Mysore will be held there on Thursday.

The Chief Minister said he will inspect the areas affected by rain in the last two days on Friday. On the encroachment in Puttenahalli area in Bangalore city, which witnessed inundation, he said it will be cleared.

Protest

After protests by property owners on Chinmaya Mission Road in Indiranagar against the proposed metro rail being laid along the Road, it was the turn of those on Mahakavi Kuvempu Road in Srirampuram to oppose it on Tuesday.

Property owners and shopkeepers, including women, staged a protest against the plan to lay the metro rail along the congested road.

The proposed metro rail will connect West of Chord Road area in Rajajinagar with Malleswaram Circle.

The laying of the rail will result in demolition of many buildings. Many families will lose their homes they have been occupying for generations.

Srirampuram is one of the old extensions of the city.

Heavy traffic

Some said Kuvempu Road is narrow for laying the metro rail. Even now, the road is unable to bear the heavy traffic from and to Rajajinagar and the extensions. The metro rail will aggravate traffic congestion, the residents said.

It may be noted that opposition is building up against the move to build a grade separator at Malleswaram Circle (Dr. T. Parthasarathy Circle). It will serve no purpose. Most of the flyovers built in the city have proved to be failures, they said.

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