Metro Rail civil works to start on April 15; traffic diversions likely

Metro Rail civil works to start on April 15; traffic diversions likely
DH News Service Bangalore:
The civil work on the proposed Metro Rail is likely to begin on April 15. The work is planned to be taken up between Anil Kumble Circle and Brigade Road junction to begin with --

The civil work on the proposed Metro Rail is likely to begin on April 15. The work is planned to be taken up between Anil Kumble Circle and Brigade Road junction to begin with -- as part of the 7-km stretch of Namma Metro from Chinnaswamy Stadium to Byappanahalli.

According to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director V Madhu, BMRC is now in talks with the traffic police to finalise the traffic diversion plan on this stretch (also called Reach-1). “The police have shown the green signal to start the work on April 15 on MG Road,” he added.

The contractor, Navayuga Constructions, plans to occupy 4.75 meters of MG Road to carry out the work.

The main portion of the work (drilling and erecting piers) will be carried out on the elevated walking path along the road.

For the remaining portion of Reach-1, diversion plans are being finalised.

The stretch between Brigade Road junction and Trinity Circle will be crucial as the metro alignment will pass right through the middle of the existing road.

On delay in starting the work despite the contract being awarded two months ago, Mr Madhu said the contractor had sought some time to mobilise machinery and put up the casting yard (coming up on a piece of defence land off Old Madras Road), even as BMRC was working on the traffic plan.

Compensation

Meanwhile, the work of fixing compensation to owners of over 600 properties which will be acquired for the metro, is almost complete and BMRC is likely to pay it up by next month-end.

Both the P S S Thomas Committee (which is working out a ‘fair’ marking value of the private land to be acquired) and a Public Works Department Committee (which is working out the actual value of all structures) are likely to submit their reports in a week’s time.

Once these reports are approved by the BMRC board, steps will be taken to distribute the compensation, Mr Madhu said.