`We’ll lessen train pain’

`We’ll lessen train pain’
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The State-owned Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) has plans to “adequately compensate” all those affected by the project. Apart from the market value of the land, they will also be compensated for the social cost they suffer.

BMRC managing director V Madhu told this website’s newspaper they were working on plans to mitigate the pain of dislocation. The Metro is the biggest-ever single infrastructure project Bangalore is witnessing, which will provide an efficient mass rapid transport system and bring about decongestion of city roads. While the Corporation has been able to get government lands, acquisition of private lands has become a tough task.

Many residents’ organisations and traders’ associations are up arms against any acquisition, and their cooperation is central to the progress of the project on schedule. The BMRC MD, however, is confident that they will get the required private land with the ‘compensation package’ they are working out. “We will give a good price for the land replacement value and compensate social cost as residents will be cut off from that part of society where they have lived for years,” he said.

The BMRC MD did not wish to disclose any details about the compensation stating that the package was being worked out, and the Government would soon take a decision on it.

The challenge before the Government and the BMRC, however, is to get the land on CMH Road in Indiranagar for the first phase of the 7 km project that connects Byappanhalli and Cubbon Road. Work on the project is likely to start in September. Meanwhile, BMRC officials are busy finalising the modalities to shift all underground infrastructure like telephone, mobile and broadband cables, power, water and sewerage lines, and according to Madhu, the shift will happen without any disruption in service.

The BMRC will soon sign MoUs with various utility agencies like BSNL, BESCOM, BWSSB, BMP and others in this regard. The work is expected to be complected within the next few months.

The Government has formed a committee headed by the Chief Secretary to coordinate with various government agencies. “The shifting of underground utilities will cost around Rs 8 crore and we will ensure that services will not be affected,” said BMRC Executive Director (Finance) Sandeep Dash. The BMRC officers said the first phase of the project would be operational by the end of 2009. Once it is ready, travelling time in the city will be reduced drastically as you can travel from one end of the city to the other in just 30 minutes. It will also help control vehicular pollution.

That apart, the project would also help to save around Rs 1,500 crore by way of increased mobility of people, increased economic activity and reduced travel time, reduced fuel cost and cut in pollution levels, as indicated by a study.