Bangalore Metro: Late entry turned down

Bangalore Metro: Late entry turned down
Deccan Herald

Late entries will not get concessions, at least on the Bangalore Metro Project front. Malaysian consortium Kencana Kasifa Transit Systems (KKTS) had recently made a proposal to fund 90 per cent of the project cost on a Build, Own, Operate, Transfer (BOOT) basis with the Bangalore Mass Rapid Transit Limited (BMRTL). However, the BMRTL is saying a strict ‘No’ to it, because the offer came up “too late”.

“The Phase I of the Bangalore Metro is in its final stages and we cannot delay it further. Though the cost of the project is high, we are financially ready for it. But we will study their proposal and consider it for the second phase of the project,” BMRTL Managing Director K N Shrivatsava told Deccan Herald.

KKTS Managing Director Syed Saahil Saif addressing a press conference on Friday, said they are willing to raise the fund from its own sources without any guarantees by the Government. Mr Saif added they are even willing to adhere to the route alignment, work and completion schedules and fare structure.

Meanwhile, Monorail promoters themselves, in a sudden change of stand, are now supporting metrorail!

Director of Metrail India Rehan Khan said: “The monorail system will complement the metro project and will allow densely populated areas, IT districts and those areas not covered by the metro to be part of the monorail. We believe that a hybrid system comprising of both the mono and metro will allow the people of Bangalore to have the best of both worlds.”