Traders, shop owners meet Kumaraswamy

Traders, shop owners meet Kumaraswamy

The Hindu

Insist on changing alignment of metro rail on Mahakavi Kuvempu Road, C.M.H. Road

# Chief Minister to inspect the spots within a week
# BMRCL officials hold discussions with the team
# `Two age-old temples in Ulsoor may have to make way for metro rail'

BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy will visit C.M.H. Road in Indiranagar, Mahakavi Kuvempu Road in Rajajinagar-Srirampuram and Old Madras Road, and see for himself how practical the suggestions of the residents of these roads are regarding changing the alignment of the metro rail. He will undertake this visit along with the residents' representatives within a week.

A delegation of the residents of those areas, led by the former MLA Pramila Nesargi, met the Chief Minister on Thursday, and reiterated their demand for a change in the alignment of the metro rail, which will pass through Mahakavi Kuvempu Road, CMH Road and 100 Feet Road, Indiranagar.

Ms. Nesargi said the delegation had given details of how the realignment of the metro rail could be achieved by shifting it from C.M.H. Road to the Old Madras Road and how much money and resources could be saved from adopting these changes. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. Managing Director V.Madhu and other officials held a discussion with them prior to the meeting with Chief Minister and countered every suggestion or objection of their own, Ms. Nesargi said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy, after giving a patient hearing, said he would prefer to make his own judgement after visiting the spot. Ms. Nesargi said that in Delhi, the alignment was altered at 34 places after the pillars had been put in place. About 25,000 people living in C.M.H. Road and surrounding areas depended on public transport.

Parking space, a railway station, and ticket counters at BDA Complex were already available. Over 27 banks run their business on C.M.H. Road, and there is only one bank on Old Madras Road, and their business will not be affected.

At Ulsoor Circle, two temples, the ancient Kumaraswamy Temple where 30,000 people gather every year to offer kavadi, will have to be razed, she said.

The CMH Road Shops and Establishment Association said the Chief Minister agreed to their demand for a spot inspection before proceeding with the metro project.

He told the officials of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. to provide the reports of the Justice K. Shivashankara Bhat committee and another by experts to the association.