Metro on track, airport takes wing

Metro on track, airport takes wing
The Times of India


Two heavyweight projects for Bangalore — Metro Rail and the international airport — which have been stuck in the pipeline for some time, did get the some budget attention, though just in passing.

Finance minister B S Yediyurappa said the Karnataka government has decided to go ahead with the Bangalore Metro Rail project, but threw the ball into the Centre’s court, stating that the project is now awaiting clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). Last year, the Public Investment Board (PIB) had granted its clearance.

However, the budget has not spoken about any fresh allocation for Metro. The low-profile statement on the key infrastructure project for Bangalore perhaps reflects the mood in the government, especially against the backdrop of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited managing director K N Shrivastava being shunted out last week.

Besides, the project has got into a knot with the chief minister’s office instructing the BMRC not to acquire 150 properties on Kuvempu Road until the CM had completed inspection. This has raised doubts on whether the government wants to change the alignment of the project, which has been arrived at after due consideration and detailed surveys.
If the alignment on Kuvempu Road is changed, there is another section waiting to be taken up for realignment: the key CMH Road, where local traders are demanding that the alignment be changed and the tracks shifted to Old Madras Road. A committee has gone into the matter and is expected to submit its report shortly.

Yediyurappa’s speech has not touched upon these issues, though the CM himself has said that it is preferable to use government land for the project as far as possible.

Air infrastructure in the state has also got some attention: Besides the “smooth progress’’ of the under-construction Bangalore International Airport and provision of Rs 128.85 crore for it, the expansion of Mangalore airport and upgradation of Hubli airport did come in for mention.

Yediyurapppa has provided Rs 25 crore for upgradation of major airports, including land acquisition for Shimoga and Karwar airports, which is supposed to begin this year. The exit line? Budgetary support for airport infrastructure is 39.19 per cent higher than last year.

The budget has not spoken about any fresh allocation for Metro and there are doubts on whether the government wants to change the alignment. Yediyurappa also touched upon air infrastructure when he said Mangalore and Hubli airports will be upgraged.