Metro Rail future hangs in balance

DOUBTS ON FEASIBILITY
Metro Rail future hangs in balance
Vijay Times

Bangalore: The fate of the ambitious Bangalore Met hangs in balance with the State government deciding to call for expression of interest for alternative of mass rail transit systems (MRTS) early next year The government is of the view that spiralling cost of the Rs 6,296 crore project raises serious questions over its feasibility and viability .

Sources said the Infrastructure Development Corporation has been asked to identify route alignments for the alternate MRTS after tenders are called for .

The project cost may exceed to Rs 14,000 cr by Jan 2006, putting a heavy burden on the government, the sources said.

This has now given way to a gradual rethink by the State government, which has already issued a letter to the promoters of the monorail system, Metrail informing them that expression of interest will called for early next year .

Though the PIB had accorded in-principle approval to the project, it had raised several key questions which still need to be addressed by Bangalore Rail Corporation, the project developers. BMRC reaction: When contacted, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) officials said, The Govt is the policy-maker , we are just an implementing agency . W e are awaiting the CCEA approval. BMRC has to go by any government decision .

Spiralling cost causes concern
Project cost may exceed Rs 14,000 cr
Route alignments for alternate MRTS sought
Letter sent to monorail promoter