Metro: 2 more hurdles to go

Metro: 2 more hurdles to go
Vijay Times

Bangalore: With the Cabinet giving the goahead for Metro Rail and gauge issue to be decided by State government, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) Managing Director V Madhu said 90 per cent of the hurdles have been cleared for the project. Now , only the expert review committee report and funding allocation are pending.

Madhu told Vijay Times in an exclusive interview that with the Justice Shivashankar Bhat expert Review Committee report expected by this month-end, work can be taken up next month to ensure the first phase is completed by scheduled time of 2009.

The committee is studying the grievances of traders and residents of CMH Road, who are demanding a realignment along Old Madras Road instead of the planned alignment on CMH Road. While the planned alignment has identified 55 properties along the CMH Road, traders fear chaos and business losses if the alignment is on the planned route.

Madhu said an informal inspection of the CMH Road properties has been conducted. The problems of the people will be given due priority before the project is implemented. He, however , promised the public will not be inconvenienced during the project implementation.

"W e also need to look at the investments from the Union government and about its share in the project," he said. "The Centre and the State government will bear 55 per cent of the cost, while 1,795 crore will come Japan Bank International Corporation and the balance from UTI-led consortium." He said the first stage work connecting Byappanahalli and MG Road will be completed within three and a half years. However , the work will begin only on receipt after the expert committee report.

Madhu also said BMRC will ensure the construction work will not affect traffic movement in the City . He said a comprehensive traffic survey is being conducted to identify areas which may be affected.

T emporary traffic diversions will be made before the construction in affected parts to ease traffic movement, he added.