Phew! Curtains up for Metro today

Phew! Curtains up for Metro today
The Times of India

Bangalore: The big day has finally arrived. All roads will lead to BRV Parade Grounds on Saturday afternoon for the foundation ceremony of the Metro Rail project — the culmination of over a decade of efforts to get the Rs 6,300-crore project on track.

The who’s who of politics will be present, other than PM Manmohan Singh — the likes of Union finance minister P Chidambaram, Urban development minister Jaipal Reddy, Deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha Rahman Khan, Karnataka governor T N Chaturvedi, chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and Congress leader N Dharam Singh.

The ceremony, at 3.30 pm, will be a symbolic affair. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation managing director V Madhu said the MoU between Karnataka and the Centre will be signed after about a week.

The 32-km project consists of two corridors connecting Yeshwantpur-RV Road and Mysore Road-Byapanahalli.
Cong claims credit: When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lays the foundation stone for the Metro Rail project at BRV Grounds on Saturday, it will also be a venue for the Congress to shout its claim over the parenthood of the project.

Don’t be surprised if the BRV Grounds takes the Congress hue. The state leadership has ensured that party members from Bangalore urban and rural units attend the function in hordes as “Metro is the Congress gift to Bangalore.’’

“Neither the JD(S) nor BJP can claim credit for the project, more so after former PM H D Deve Gowda tried to scuttle it. Metro was cleared by the Congress government,’’ party MLC and KPCC general secretary Prakash K Rathod said.

Metro will be the first in the package planned by the Congress high command for Karnataka.

THE STORY SO FAR

Project concept started with ELRTS in 1995. Changed to Metro Rail in 2002 Culminated in a detailed survey by RITES and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in 2003. Cabinet approval in March 2005. Planning Commission nod on February 14, 2004 (in-principle approval). PIB approval came in August 2005. Union government gave green signal on April 27, 2006.

ON TRACK
Total number of lines: 2
Peak hour: One train every 3 minutes and at other times, every 5 minutes. Peak hour is between 8.30 am and 10.30 am, 5 pm & 8 pm Ramps at all places except underground stations, where there will be elevators. Braille control panels planned. Tactile flooring for visually handicapped to be part of the system. Wide access gates and reserved areas for wheelchairs. Smart cards for seamless travel with options of shifting from Metro Rail system to bus services and vice versa . Tourist cards to be available, as also tokens for single journeys.