Metro Rail on track: BMRC chief

Metro Rail on track: BMRC chief
Vijay Times

Bangalore: Brushing aside reports or rumours of a delay in the Rs 6,395 crore Bangalore Metro project, V Madhu, managing director, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) on Monday said the project was on schedule.

Speaking to Vijay Times, the BMRC chief clarified that there were no hindrances. It is not possible for men with spades to start excavation work immediately in massive projects such as the Metro Rail.

"The people can be rest assured civil works on the 7-km stretch between the cricket stadium and Byappanahalli will definitely begin in September this year. A five-and-ahalf-year project does take time." Explaining the progress in the selection of a general consultant and shortlisting of contractors, Madhu said issues such as tender documents, design for Metro stations and selection of agencies were in progress.

On the monorail being implemented by the government, he said the Government Order of April 24 has clearly directed that three feeder routes to the Metro Rail would be supported by the monorail.

"A comprehensive traffic survey by RITES on 52 traffic corridors in the City cited 21 high-density corridors and recommended three corridors for the monorail system. There is no competition between both forms of transit systems," Madhu said.

With the MoU between the Centre and the State expected in the second week of June, BMRC officials say there should not be any problems coming in the way of the project proceeding forward.

"The requests of affected parties on few routes have been taken into consideration. BMRC will go by the directive of the government in aligning the Metro," he explained.