Metro: Prakash, Kharge sing different tunes

Metro: Prakash, Kharge sing different tunes
Deccan Herald

Contradictory views were expressed on the proposed Metro rail project in City on Tuesday by two senior Cabinet ministers.

Deputy Chief Minister and JD (S) leader M P Prakash said that the State government should seriously consider the “concerns” raised by JD(S) National President H D Deve Gowda before implementing the Metro rail project in the City.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a photo exhibition, he said that Mr Gowda’s concern regarding huge investments on the project and consequent displacement “could not be brushed aside”.

At a separate function, Water Resources Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said that Metro rail was not a matter of individual opinion, but how it was going to benefit the people of the City.

The Cabinet has already taken a decision in favour of the metro rail and there was no proposal to withdraw the project. “The decision has been taken by the coalition government which has ministers of both the parties”, Mr Kharge added.

Discussions

Meanwhile, expediting the process of land acquisition, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation held discussions with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India to acquire 26.63 acres at Byappanahalli, on Tuesday.

Shortly 34.42 acres of land will be procured from other Union government agencies and its undertakings such as HAL, BSNL, BHEL, Central Silk Board and the Railways, BMRC Managing Director K N Srivastava said in a press release on Tuesday.

The State government departments and agencies such as Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, Horticulture, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited and NGEF have agreed to give 53.466 acres of land, the release said.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary B K Das held a meeting with the officers of the State and Union government on Monday and directed them to hand over the land required for the metro project at the earliest, the release added.