Govt sits on DMRC plea

Govt sits on DMRC plea
The Times of INdia

Bangalore: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has reiterated with the Karnataka government about making them the prime consultants for the Bangalore Metro Rail project.

But the government is dillydallying on the issue since it wants complete control over the project, sources said. However, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) may be forced to go in for DMRC as the latter is the only organisation in the country which has expertise.

As prime consultants, DMRC will supervise the project overall and the BMRC Board could take their opinion on any of the ticklish issues that could come up during the construction. The state will have to pay just Rs 10 crore to the prime consultants. The DMRC, which has built the Delhi Metro Rail completely, had prepared the draft plan for the Bangalore Metro Rail, based on which the complete route alignment for the two corridors — Yeshwantpur-RV Road and Byapanahalli-Mysore Road — was finalised.


DMRC MD Sreedharan and adviser S N Venkat Rao had worked on the Bangalore Metro Rail project plan. Asked if the government had agreed to make DMRC prime consultants, Sreedharan said: “I am hopeful. We have spoken to them, but they have to get back to us.’’
The BMRC is deciding on appointing consultants for the first leg of phase-I between Byapanahalli and cricket stadium, for which tenders have been called for. The BMRC has got expression of interest from 25 companies. The BMRC shortlisted 12 companies. It is also in the process of appointing general consultants for which nine global consortiums have submitted proposals, out of which five have been shortlisted.’