No mono, only underground metro: Retired engineer

No mono, only underground metro: Retired engineer
New Indian Express

BANAGALORE: Even as a raging debate has begun over whether Metro Rail or Mono Rail is a superior mode of mass transit for the city, a retired Chief Engineer of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board has suggested that a fully underground metro is the best option.

J. T. Jayaprakash, an expert who has worked on underground water supply systems in the city, said though the underground metro is costlier compared to that of the surface or elevated transit system, it is the best.

‘‘It is comparatively less risky, easy to maintain and has a long life span. It is also economically viable,’’ he told this website’s newspaper.

According to Jayaprakash, surface transport may not be possible in the city as it requires acquisition of built-up areas. ‘‘For underground metro, minimum land needed for stations.’’

The important suggestion given by the retired technocrat is that the metro in Bangalore should be broad gauge and not standard gauge as planned by the Bangalore Mass Rapid Transit Limited, the nodal agency for implementing the project.

‘‘From narrow and meter gauge, the government has converted the rail network in the country to broad gauge. The metro should also be broad gauge as it can carry more passengers,’’ he added.

However, according to sources in the BMRTL, broad gauge requires more land than the standard gauge, which is also equally efficient.