WHAT’S BEHIND THE FACADE?
Takes a peek behind the Metro barricades on MG Road to see what’s on track
The Times of India

WONDERING what’s behind the barricades that spell Bangalore Metro on MG Road? It’s the sign of good things to come. With the ‘go ahead’ by chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, the BMRC (Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation) has set up 7-8 points along the main road for testing soil and underground facilities. The 7km-long first phase will extend from Anil Kumble Circle up to Byappanahalli Railway Station, and 40 spots on this stretch will need detailed looking into.

“We have conducted a joint survey along with the BESCOM, BWSSB and BSNL, but we could not get a clear picture as some of these installations are nearly 50 years old. So we have decided to open up 40 locations to do a thorough investigation and make the necessary adjustments and shifts,” says BMRC executive engineer, Keshav Prakash. The erstwhile Plaza Theatre will house one of the stations as Prakash states, “we have taken over the first floor of the proposed building for a ticketing station and other purposes, and the remaining floors will be used by the building owners.”

Whether it’s really testing or just plain digging, the barricades have attracted attention and reactions, some of excitement, others of scoff. Says shop owner Anand Sukumar, “It’s great that the project has made some progress, but as long as the work isstructured and organised, it’s alright. But if it’s not, the roads get disrupted and our business also suffers.”

While the project is being steered along the tracks of the Delhi Metro, it will be well appreciated if they took lessons from the capital’s organisational skills as well. “When such constructions happen in Delhi, they try and cause as little discomfort to the common man as possible. Let’s hope they try and do the same here,” says Anand.

Some, on the other hand, are willing to cross a few hurdles if the cause is productive. “It is the price one has to pay for development. Hopefully, the work will continue and finish as scheduled. It’s good to see some sort of a start,” says Vikram B, who works on MG Road. The Rs 6,000-crore project is all set to take off as soon as the Group of Ministers (GoM) submit their report on the legal issues and the gauge selection study. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs is also expected to give the green signal by the end of the month. Seems like the new government is keen on giving a positive shape to the city’s future and realises that traffic decongestion is one of the ways to hold onto investors, which is eventually linked to an organised public transport system.