Metro alignment will stay: MD

Metro alignment will stay: MD
The Times of India

Bangalore: The alignment of Bangalore Metro Rail project is frozen and cannot be changed now, V Madhu, new managing director of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC), said on Saturday.

“No question of changing the alignment on Kuvempu Road in Rajajinagar now,” Madhu told the Sunday Times of India. The BMRC will, however, recommend compensation for those occupying 150 properties.

The Public Investment Board has sanctioned the project and banks, including the Japan Bank of Investment Cooperation, have taken investment decisions based on the plans of alignment and the peak hour peak direction traffic. “It is difficult to change the alignment now. The routes have been decided. The state cabinet cleared the alignment while approving the project in 2004.’’

Madhu said he will meet Justice Shivshankar Bhat on Monday and request the three-member committee to withdraw its resignation. “We will give the necessary clarifications the committee has sought for.’’

The decision to go either along the CMH Road alignment or change it to Old Madras Road will be subject to the recommendations of the committee.

He said most of the occupants along Kuvempu Road have been running businesses for 30 years and are tenants. While the Land Acquisition Act allows for compensation to land owners, it does not have a provision for tenants. “But still we have to take care of them,” he said.

Shopowners on the road had given a representation to chief minister H D Kumaraswamy. Last week, the CM’s office directed the BMRC not to demolish any property without the CM’s consent.

On Saturday, Madhu and BMRC engineers inspected the alignment on Kuvempu Road and made some observations, which will be presented to the government.