CM lying about status of Metro Rail

Metro rail still awaits 3 vital State approvals
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: While Chief Minister Dharam Singh has been repeatedly announcing that the Bangalore Metro Rail project work will begin soon, the State Government’s lethargy in granting three vital approvals for the project tells a different story.

Three major approvals -- formal affirmation of its financial obligation to the project, approval for the revised cost and permission to go ahead with preliminary works -- all due from the State Government, are pending. Bangalore Mass Rapid Transit Limited (BMRTL), the chief promoter of the project, had sought these approvals months ago.

Meanwhile, the total cost of the project stands at a whopping Rs. 6,250 crore. While the Government dithers, the project continues to suffer mind-boggling cost escalation at the rate of Rs. 55 lakh a day.

‘‘In a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on February 2, all queries relating to the project were answered by us. He has assured that the approval for financing will be taken up in the next Cabinet meeting. A positive outcome is expected in 10 days,’’ BMRTL managing director K.N. Srivastava told this website’s newspaper. ‘‘Meanwhile, we will prepare the land acquisition notification and proceed with the pre-qualification bids,’’ he added.

In contrast, files seem to be moving relatively faster in Delhi. The Union Government, which is also a promoter of the project along with the State Government and BMRTL, has in principle accorded pre-project and project investment approvals. The final nod is expected by March 10 and any delay may be caused only by the annual Budget preparation.

The State Government’s commitment to the project is about Rs. 1,800 crore while the Centre’s share is about Rs. 1,450 crore. The remainder will be raised as debt from the market, Srivastava added.

BMRTL has identified 13.55 hectares of Government land, 34.30 hectares of private land and 41.15 hectares of Defence land for acquisition -- a process which will take three months and cost Rs. 600 crore. The total land also includes 26.7 hectares of built-up area and 732 properties.

‘‘We are now in a position to begin the project in May,’’ said Srivastava adding that the project will be awarded on a general consultation basis to a consortium of Indian and foreign companies. Construction of the first 8 km stretch and eight stations, to be taken up from Chinnaswamy Stadium to Byappanahalli, would be executed by RITES. The first train will roll by October 2008, Srivastava added.