Metro project realignment sought

Metro project realignment sought
The Times of India

Bangalore: Residents of Jayanagar suggested change of alignment for the proposed metro rail project to avoid the project cutting through the Lakshman Rau boulevard on South End road and also to ensure that no properties are acquired. Another suggestion was also that the project go underground instead of elevated in this area.

Participating in an interaction meet with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) authorities organised by the federation of Jayanagar residents association and Jayanagar traders association on Monday, residents of the area sought to know why the alignment cannot be changed when the same was done to save Cubbon Park.

In the earlier plan, metro rail was supposed to cut through Cubbon Park, but the alignment was changed in such a way that the railway line would be laid from Vidhana Soudha cutting through Ambedkar Veedhi, Minsk Square, BRV parade grounds and touch MG road.

“When you can save Cubbon Park, why disturb the boulevard. If the project passes through Jayanagar with its stations and other paraphernalia, it will also increase the noise and commercialise the residential areas. It is also learnt that the project will cut through several private properties,’’ the residents pointed out.

Addressing the gathering after making a presentation on Bangalore metro phase I, BMRC managing director K N Shrivastava categorically ruled out redesigning the alignment in Jayanagar. Assuring the residents that the authorities would carry out large scale planting in the boulevard - almost 10 times of what gets felled — Shrivastava said people who lose their properties will be suitably compensated.

“We will go underground only in highly chaotic area as the cost if very high. A km of elevated rail costs Rs 100 crore and it will cost nearly Rs 250 per km to go underground. But we will ensure that acquisition is the barest minimum,’’ Shrivastava explained adding that 27 acres of private land will have to acquired for the entire first phase.

He informed the residents that the foundation stone will be laid by Sankranti and project would commence by March 2006 once the general consultants are appointed. The BMRC has received applications from nine consortiums. Dwelling on the apprehensions of some residents about the environmental feasibility of the project, the MD said a committee headed by environmentalist Yellappa Reddy has been appointed to take care of this issue.