Divided between Mono and Metro rail

Divided between Mono and Metro rail
Deccan Herald

Monorail can only be an overhead system and therefore cannot go through the crowed and narrow roads of the City’s business centre, said Mr Venkata Rao.

It is no more a debate but an argument over whether it is the Metro Rail or the Monorail that is best suited for Bangalore.

Officers closely connected with the Metro Rail on Friday alleged that “certain interested parties are giving wrong figures” while selling the pros of Monorail for public consumption.

Making the allegation was Mr S N Venkata Rao, adviser both with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and the Bangalore Metro Rail project. Supporting him was Mr K N Srivatsava, Managing Director, Bangalore Mass Rapid Transit Limited. Mr Venkata Rao even accused the so called ‘interested parties’ (read mono rail) of fooling the people with claims like solar energy-based operation. He was making a presentation on ‘Why Metro Rail for Bangalore?’, at the Institution of Engineers. Nowhere is Monorail used for urban transport; it is used only for amusement parks, airport links or tourist centres where heavy charges are levied, he argued. Monorail can only be an overhead system and therefore cannot go through crowed and narrow roads of the City’s business centre, he said. BMRTL MD Srivatsava alleged that a misinformation campaign is on (by monorail). “It is rubbish,” he said.

The Monorail party was asked to provide a link between the City centre and the airport besides a choice to provide mass transport solutions to cities like Mysore. But they insist on playing a big role in Bangalore, he said.

Residents speak

In an interactive session the audience suggested that Metro Rail should wait till the release of the Comprehensive Survey report on Transport and Traffic in Bangalore. The survey reportedly said to be completed in the next eight months must be Advanced to the next three months, they said. It also saw members of Indiranagar residents’ welfare body and business association clash over the Metro rail passing through the CMH Road.