Number of stations to be reduced in Indiranagar

Number of stations to be reduced in Indiranagar
Deccan Herald

The Justice Shivashankar Bhat report has endorsed the route alignment proposed by the BMRC, despite protests by affected parties on CMH Road and 100 Feet Road, Indiranagar, who have been demanding a re-alignment to Old Madras Road.

The Justice Shivashankar Bhat report has endorsed the route alignment proposed by the BMRC, despite protests by affected parties on CMH Road and 100 Feet Road, Indiranagar, who have been demanding a re-alignment to Old Madras Road.

Following the Committee’s recommendations, the BMRC has decided to reduce the number of metro stations on CMH Road and 100 Feet Road from two to one, thereby reducing the number of properties to be acquired from 27 to 5. The station will be located on a vacant site opposite Arya Samaj building on CMH Road. Presently, there is a temporary furniture and carpet shop housed on the site. An ATM counter that is also in the premises will be shifted to the station building.

Sources reveal that the decision of not re-aligning the route is because the Committee, which also had Public Affairs Centre head Samuel Paul and highways expert Prof C E G Justo as its members, felt that the ridership would be more on the proposed route. Also, the members felt the claims made by traders were exaggerated and did not reveal the true facts, sources added.

Route I: CMH Road and 100 Feet Road, Indiranagar

Merits

* Closer catchment area for the metro

* Attracts a large ridership

Demerits

* Traffic congestion to become worse

* An additional cost of Rs 60 crore for BMRC

Route II: Old Madras Road

Merits

* Widening of this road will permit two lanes on either side and hence the traffic flow will be faster

* More scope for creating parking lots

* Fewer properties will be affected

* Relocation and livelihood problems will be smaller

Demerits

* The ridership on this route will be lower

* May become a sensitive issue as it crosses a graveyard, mosque, temple

* Number of traders affected on this route is the same as the CMH route

* Acquiring Defence land is difficult