Poojary threatens agitation for metro rail

Poojary threatens agitation for metro rail

The Hindu

Dubs Deve Gowda's objection to project anti-development

BANGALORE: The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President, B. Janardhana Poojary, has termed the objections raised by the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda to the proposed Bangalore metro rail project anti-development.

The day is not far off when Mr. Deve Gowda will stand exposed before the people, Mr. Poojary told a press conference here on Monday. Mr. Deve Gowda had raised objections to the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project, the international airport project at Devanahalli, Arkavathy Layout in Bangalore and now the metro rail project. The entire State is happy that Bangalore has bagged a prestigious project, which will help ease traffic congestion, and only Mr. Deve Gowda has called for a halt to the project.

Mr. Poojary said he will write to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, demanding the implementation of the metro rail project.

If Mr. Deve Gowda remains adamant, then the Congress will not hesitate to launch an agitation demanding that the metro rail project be implemented. "We should not earn the wrath of future generations by preventing the development of good infrastructure."

Mr. Poojary said the metro rail is a Central project and has received the approval of the Planning Commission and the Union Urban Development Ministry. It should be remembered that MPs from the State struggled for over two decades to get the Centre's approval for the project.

"This proposal was there even when I was the Union Minister of State for Finance." One cannot understand the rationale behind the former Prime Minister questioning the feasibility of the project when financial and railway experts have prepared the feasibility report.

Mr. Poojary said the metro rail is much cheaper than the monorail. The metro rail for Bangalore will cost around Rs. 80 crores a kilometre and its carrying capacity will be around 20 lakh passengers a day. The monorail can carry only two lakh passengers a day.

It is strange that Mr. Deve Gowda has raised objections when Ministers from his party have given their consent when the matter was discussed in the Cabinet. The Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, and the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, deserve appreciation for standing up and saying that they will ensure that the project is implemented.

Vision for development

The KPCC President said it is imperative for the Government to have a proper vision for the development of Bangalore. Traffic congestion is increasing every day. By 2010 the number of vehicles in Bangalore is expected to be more than 40 lakhs. It is the duty of the Government to provide good roads and a proper transport system to the citizens.