People were misled about Metro Rail cost: Metrail Chief

People were misled about Metro Rail cost: Metrail Chief
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Bangaloreans are being misled by promoters of the Metro Rail project over its viability, Metrail India Chairman and former Union Cabinet Secretary Zafar Saifullah said on Thursday.

People were misled regarding the cost of land acquisition and destruction to be caused by the project, as it would be a burden on the State Government, he said while delivering M Visvesvaraya memorial lecture on ‘Transportation solution for exploding Bangalore’.

The programme was organised by the All India Manufacturers Organisation to celebrate M Visveswaraya’s birthday.

He said exactly a year ago the Metrail Corporation had submitted a proposal to the Government to take up the Monorail project in the City without any financial burden on the state.

“But, no decision has been taken so far. The end result of not taking a decision would be a total disaster for the City.”

Instead of going ahead with the Metrorail, the State Government should consider the alternate mass transport system of Monorail, which operated mainly on solar energy and does not require power from the grid, he suggested.

Criticising the previous State Governments for not imparting adequate attention to the infrastructure in the City, the former bureaucrat said, lack of vision has led to the problems in the City.

“It is time for shift change in attitude and decision making,” he added. The association presented awards to Saifulla, Admiral O S Dawson, Ganapathy Subramaniam and Capt V V K Mani for their service to the society.