Work to go on, come what may

BMIC UPDATE
Work to go on, come what may
The Times of India

Bangalore: The judicial probe into the BMIC project is not going to hamper the ongoing construction work on the peripheral road around Bangalore.

Representatives of BMIC project promoters Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) told The Times of India that two more stretches of the road — other than the already opened 9-km Kanakapura Road to Mysore Road stretch — are almost complete. “We still need about 600 metres at the entry point on Bannerghatta Road to complete the 6-km Kanakapura Road-Bannerghatta Road stretch. In the 9.6-km Magadi Road-Mysore Road stretch, we have to get about 200 metres and 400 metres at two sections midway,’’ they said.

The promoters felt since work was not stopped at any point even when the BMIC cases were being heard in the Supreme Court and Karnataka High Court, there is no need to stop it now. “The judicial inquiry is essentially into what happened after the 1997 framework agreement and whether officials colluded with us or not. It does not stop us from continuing work and unless we are physically stopped, we shall continue,’’ representatives said.

As for construction from the Mysore side, the promoters said the state government had passed an order insisting that work begin from both sides. “If KIADB refuses to give the money we have deposited with them to MUDA, is it our fault? We are just seeking cooperation to follow government orders,’’ representatives maintained.

NICE has asked the KIADB to furnish details of how the Rs 110 crore deposited with them for compensation has been utilised so far. “If they do not have cash to pay MUDA, let them give us details of what has been spent, we will give them more,’’ they added.

On Monday, the government appointed retired Delhi High Court judge Justice B C Patel to head the judicial inquiry into the project. The inquiry will go into details of the project and all that happened after the 1997 framework agreement, which has been upheld by the Supreme Court.