BMRCL: Just wait and watch

Just wait and watch
Here is a monthly update on the city’s four major infrastructure projects
The Times of India

Bangalore: The Bangalore Metro Rail project is now inching towards opening of bids and calling for tenders before the actual work can take off. Just to remind you, the foundation stone for the project was laid nearly six months ago by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) authorities have said they have opened the bid for via duct construction and they are opening the commercial bids and had a pre-bid meetings. Says BMRC MD V Madhu: “We are likely to approve the via duct construction tender by the end of December or the first week of January.’’
Meanwhile, the BMRC is finishing the 5th segment out of the 14 segments of utilities shifting. “We have just started the work relating to utilities in the 26 km side and we have drilled 30 odd bores around the city to determine the soil strata. We have also planted 15,000 trees,” they add.
The Thomas Committee, which is evaluating the land prices to be fixed for those who will lose land for the project, has visited all the places on the alignment to sample the land value. The report will be ready by January 7. Also, the PWD evaluation committee has met twice to determine the cost of demolishing various structures on the Metro Rail route. The report will be ready by December end. These will determine the compensation package.
The BMRC board is likely to meet in the first week of January to approve the via duct tender. The actual physical work, officials promise, will take off by the end of January. Only time will tell if it is on track or off track!