Centre's nod for Metro expected by March 15

Centre's nod for Metro expected by March 15

The Hindu

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Mass Rapid Transit Ltd. (BMRTL) is hopeful of getting the Centre's clearance for Bangalore Metro Rail project by March 15.

BMRTL Managing Director K.N. Shrivastava said the Group of Ministers of the Union Cabinet, which is studying the project, is likely to submit its report by February 21. The Group of Ministers includes Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy, Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad. The Group of Ministers, Mr. Shrivastava said, will go into all details, including the type of gauge to be used in the project. He said standard gauge rather than the broadgauge is best suited for the city. "If the project is approved by the Union Government, the bhoomi puja will be conducted by the end of March," he added.

Mr. Shrivastava said objections related to land acquired for the project can still be filed with Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board.