Metro rail: BMP yet to give permission for road cutting

Metro rail: BMP yet to give permission for road cutting

The Hindu

Digging to be taken up to Byappanahalli

# BMP officials say no specific application has been made with regard to digging of the stretch
# Discussions on road alignment, land acquisition, relocation of bus-shelters on
# Survey being conducted to determine the number of trees to be felled or pruned

BANGALORE: Though the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is all set to start road-digging work to shift Bangalore Electricity Supply Company power lines from Chinnaswamy stadium up to Byappanahalli, the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) is yet to permission for road cutting.

BMRCL Managing Director V. Madhu had announced recently that digging would be taken up on small stretches of the road from the stadium up to Byappanahalli to shift BESCOM's underground and overhead lines.

This means stretches of the road where power lines come in the Metro alignment along Mahatma Gandhi Road would be dug up, obviously causing inconvenience to scores of people who hop on to this show-piece street of Bangalore.

Mr. Madhu told The Hindu on Tuesday that the company was going through all the required procedures for obtaining road cutting permission from the BMP. "We are constantly communicating with the BMP for coordination in all aspects. Our officials have applied for the permission two months ago. Now BMP officials have asked us to submit the exact time schedule of the completion of all road digging work, which will be taken up to shift power, water and telephone lines. The schedule is being finalised and will be submitted to the BMP shortly. We are sure the permission will be accorded after that," he said.

But sources in the BMP said they had received applications from BMRCL some time back seeking permission for work on trial bits. "No specific application has been made with regard to digging of the stretch from Cricket stadium up to Byappanahalli," the sources said.

Stressing that the civic body would not refuse permission for the project, the sources said the BMP would extend all possible cooperation for the execution of the prestigious project.

BMP Commissioner K. Jairaj said discussions on road alignment, land acquisition, relocation of bus-shelters from places where Metro Rail stations have been proposed and various other aspects were on. "Our engineers are looking into redesigning of projects and work that has to be taken up on the identified Metro corridors. This is a prestigious project and we will cooperate with the BMRCL in all aspects," he said.

Joint survey

The BMRCL is conducting a joint survey with the BMP for determining the number and type of trees that come in the Metro alignment and may have to be pruned or felled.

Mr. Madhu, who said that BMRCL had a coordination meeting with representatives from all service providers every Monday, pointed out that BMP officials had started the process of identifying the land where BMRCL should take up alternative planting in the ratio of 1:10.

"We will plant ten saplings for every tree that will be felled. We have already started this on BDA land," he added.