Real estate men trying to derail project: NICE chief

Real estate men trying to derail project: NICE chief
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Three days after the State Government decided to constitute a committee to review the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC), Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) suspects that some politicians and real estate agents are trying to derail the project.

‘‘A few politicians, some in power and some out of power and a few real estate agents are trying to derail the project by politicising it,’’ NICE Managing Director Ashok Kheny told this paper.
He, however, refused to name any of them.

The State Cabinet had on Friday decided to constitute a committee headed by advisor to Public Works Department (PWD) and Energy Departments K.C.Reddy to review whether there were any irregularities in the proposed townships, alignment of express highway, peripheral ring road, and original frame work agreement entered between the Government and Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises.

Strongly opposing the move to constitute such a committee, the NICE chief said: ‘‘It is illegal and will not withstand test of law.’’ He did not rule out the possibility of approaching the courts against constitution of the committee.

Despite the ongoing tussle with the coalition Government in the State, the company has not stopped the project work. However, with the latest decision of the Government, the project is expected to be further delayed. NICE has planned to complete the first phase of the project covering 61 km by August next. The second phase covering 30 km was proposed to be ready by August 2006 and another 60 km will be covered in the third phase, which will be completed one year after that.

NICE managing director Kheny said there is no need for any other committee as the Empowered Committee headed by the Chief Secretary can look into all issues related to the project.‘‘This is a wrong precedent, how can an infrastructure project like this can be held to ransom,’’ he questioned.