HDK allays fears over Metro project

HDK allays fears over Metro project
Deccan Herald

Chief Minister H D Kumaaraswamy on Friday allayed fears over Bangalore Metro Rail project by declaring ‘’there is no question of either stopping or delaying the prestigious project’’.

“We will implement the Metro work on a war-footing,” Mr Kumaaraswamy told the Legislative Assembly in the wake of reports that it had hit another road block as he had stopped acquisition of private properties near Malleswaram for the project.

While replying to the two-day debate in the Assembly on President A P J Abdul Kalam’s 11-point development agenda, the chief minister touched upon the metro issue as some members sought a clarification.

He hit out at the officials implementing the metro project by noting that they were about to acquire small private properties of the dimensions of 20 x 30 feet for building the railway stations though enough government land was available in the area. “I don’t understand why these small private properties should be acquired when we have government land itself.” He had stopped the acquistion process only to examine the issue and not to obstruct the work, he clarified. “Being in the government, we too have the responsibility to protect the interests of people,” he remarked.

On the metro and monorail controversy, the chief minister said all available mass rapid transport systems, including monorail, would be considered and that would be in addition to the metro rail. There was no need to have any doubt on the metro project, he asserted.

When some Opposition members drew his attention on his father and JD (S) leader H D Deve Gowda’s opposition to the metro rail, the chief minister maintained that Mr Gowda was not opposed to the metro project, but was only concerned over sharing of the finances between the State and the Centre. “It is Mr Gowda who cleared the Delhi metro rail project when he was prime minister,” he pointed out.

The chief ministeralso declared that he would not allow any of the Public Sector Undertakings to sell of the land allotted to them by the government. Education

Mr Kumaaraswamy announced that the government would introduce job-oriented diploma and certificate courses at degree level to help students to get employment opportunities. Besides, skill development courses would also be offered in polytechnic colleges.

HAVE BROAD MIND: CM

Bangalore, DHNS:

Talking tough, Chief Minister H D Kumaaraswamy on Friday asked the corporators of Bangalore Mahanagara Palike to give up “small mindedness” and co-operate with officials on upgrading the city’s infrastructure.

Referring to the allegation of some members in the Legislative Assembly that differences between the government and the BMP were responsible for the problems, the chief minister shot back: “It is not the differences between the BMP and the government; but the actual problem is lack of co-ordination between the corporators and the officials.”

The Chief Minister declared that he would not allow any problem to affect the City’s development.