Metro rail on schedule: CM

Metro rail on schedule: CM
Friday April 13 2007 11:16 IST

BANGALORE: The multi-crore Bangalore Metro rail project work is going on at a fast pace and is expected to be completed as per schedule, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy informed the State Assembly on Thursday.

Replying to a debate on the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (amendment) Bill, 2006, the Chief Minister stated that the first phase of the project was expected to be completed by next year and the entire project by 2012. The Bill provides for increasing the number of wards under the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) from the existig 100 to 150.

Tabling the Bill, Kumaraswamy allayed fears of the Opposition that the Bill was introduced in haste and said the government had done enough preparations, keeping in view the expansion of the city.

Various works, including drinking water supply and waste water management scheme would be taken up in Greater Bangalore, he informed. He said investors continued to flock the city and the number of visiting foreign dignitaries was also increasing. The government was cautious of allotting land to investors, in view of the spiralling costs of land in the city, he added. Kumaraswamy said a committee headed by former ISRO chairman Dr Kasturirangan had been set up to chart out development plans for Greater Bangalore and eight new zones have already been created to administer the new areas coming under it, he said.

Another official committee has also been constituted for delimitation of wards and a land transport authority set up to address issues related to transport.