MLA toys with park train plan

MLA toys with park train plan


Bengaluru June 4: The toy train at Kempambudhi park that chugged along for a few days in the first week of November, 2007 had brought a smile on the faces of children and their parents. But the joy did not last long. The former MLA of Basavanagudi, Mr K. Chandrashekar, had been putting a spoke into the wheels of the project leading to inordinate delay, said an official on condition of anonymity. It is said that Mr Chandrashekar was confident of winning the elections and his party, the Congress, coming to power in the state. As per protocol, the local MLA would play a major role in the inauguration of a project, according to sources. But his calculations went haywire.

Though the 1.24 crore toy train project was completed in November last, the train is waiting for the green signal from the BBMP. Meanwhile, tiny tots and children living in and around the Kempambudhi park area are upset with the BBMP authorities for depriving them of the joy ride. Mr Girish B.N., the contractor, told this newspaper that the project costing Rs 1.24 crore had been completed and handed over to the BBMP. After the completion, the BBMP has to invite tenders for entrusting the maintenance of the toy train. However, the authorities have been sitting on it, he alleged.

The tracks were sourced from Coimbatore, while the toy train was brought from Hyderabad and assembled here. “We built the tracks, bridges and railway station with a platform to give the feeling of a railway station. I even ran the train free for a week. However, later I was asked to stall it,” he added. A senior BBMP official says, “expression of interest will be called for maintenance of the toy train at Kempambudhi park. Terms and conditions for inviting expression of interest are being finalised and would be announced within 10 days. Inviting expression of interest was delayed due to some repair work and hurdles, he added.

Eight-year-old Sandeep Raj, who was excited at the thought of having a toy train close by and not having to go to all the way to Cubbon Park, said that now they were just left staring at the stationary train. Nachiket K, 10, said the BBMP must take the initiative to run the train. Repeated pleas to inaugurate the train to children have fallen on deaf ears. The MLA has however denied that he was delaying the project. He said he was not aware of the reason for the delay in the project.