Metro is for benefit of society: MD

Metro is for benefit of society: MD
But Inconvenience For Some
The Times of India

Bangalore: Most agree that Metro Rail for Bangalore needs to come up in a hurry to mitigate the city’s traffic woes. Yet, there have been debates on whether the project is the only alternative for the transportation problems. The issue hot up after former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda raised doubts over cost-effectiveness of the project. Similarly, the minutes of the Public Investment Board (PIB) meeting of August 5 has raised questions about the project. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) managing director K N S h r iva s t ava tries to clear the air in an interview to The Times of India. Excerpts:

1 Why do you think Metro Rail is the most effective solution to Bangalore’s traffic problems?
Selection of a transport system for a particular corridor is determined by the traffic demand, which in turn, is measured by phpdt (peak hour peak direction traffic). A corridor, with more than 20,000 phpdt, can only be serviced by a Metro Rail system.

2 The PIB has raised issues of alignment, specially on MG Road and Cubbon Park.
We are fully conscious that Cubbon Park is a sensitive area and the alignment has to be done in such a manner that least disturbance is caused to Cubbon Park. As per the project, construction along the entire Cubbon Park area will be done underground. Only at the end, near the Cubbon Park police station, a ramp will be built. We have planned to extend underground tunnelling and will reduce space required inside the park. The depth of the underground tunnel will be a minimum of 40 feet and maximum of 80 feet. Even a skyscraper requires only 20-foot depth for laying the foundation stone, so no structure will be affected. As for MG Road, only two buildings will have to be demolished; one will be near Trinity Circle and the other opposite Manekshaw Parade Ground.

3 The CMH Traders’ Association has been fighting against alignment in their area, saying it is going to destroy their livelihood...?
The CMH Road alignment has been planned keeping in mind the traffic demand. Earlier, 55 properties were identified to be acquired and demolished. But we have scaled down our requirement now to just 22 buildings. We have also assured traders that construction will be carried out between 11 pm and 5 am, and their normal business will remain unaffected . The alternate route suggested — to take alignment from SV Road directly to Old Madras Road — will reduce ridership by 15 per cent. The annual loss of revenue will be Rs 60 crore.

4 Some parties are accusing you of misleading the PIB on the Metro Rail for Bangalore?
We have placed all facts. Whatever information furnished is based on documents, studies and reports. We are building Metro Rail for the overall benefit of society. A few may be forced to undergo inconveniences. Even CMH Road and Indiranagar have come up by displacing farmers. Now, for further development, another set of people have to undergo some inconvenience. We, however, will provide them compensation.

5 The PIB said that cost escalation will have to be borne by the state?
We will contest the minutes of the meeting. So far as land is concerned, it had been agreed that cost escalations would be borne by the state government. The other components — civil construction and machines and equipment — have to be shared by GOI and GOK. Cost escalation too has to be shared.