CMH Road traders fret over biz loss

CMH Road traders fret over biz loss
Come August 1, Traffic Restrictions Will Be Imposed Due To Namma Metro Work
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: As the traffic police department gets set to impose restrictions on CMH Road — in connection with commencement of work on the Namma Metro — traders on the road are dreading the possibilities of lean business.
Traffic movement will be completely blocked on a stretch from BM Sri junction up to CMH Road-Double Road junction, from August 1. D Srinivas, DCP, traffic (east), said a notification with regard to the diversion will be issued in a couple of days. Traffic will be diverted from the BM Sri junction on 100-Feet Road and will move in front of Chinmaya Mission hospital and then take a left turn to reach Old Madras Road.
The traders are worried as the restricted traffic movement is likely to affect their business. Many have already left the road after their buildings were identified as coming under the proposed Metro alignment. Somanath, a trader whose shop will go down to put the Metro line in place, said he has already taken up a shop on Ring Road and was ready to move out. Imtiaz Ahmed, president, CMH Road Shops and Establishments’ Association, said business will collapse with traffic restrictions. Pointing out that the project may take years to complete, he said: “We know it’s a good infrastructure project and are not against it. But the alignment on the CMH Road will kill our business. It took several years before the business started to flourish and if we are forced to go without business now for years, it will ruin several people’s lives.’’
Ganapathy, a manager in a motorbike showroom — half of which will go down for Metro — said business has to be relocated. He, though, added that finding a location in another major commercial area would be a tough ask. “There are constraints but it has become inevitable for us,’’ he added.
Sreedharan may be Metro consultant Bangalore: In all probability, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) managing director E Sreedharan may be appointed consultant to the Bangalore Metro Rail project.
The offer was reportedly made by chief minister B S Yeddyurappa when the former met him here on Monday. “It was a brief meeting, but the issue of utilizing his services was discussed. An offer was made and he has agreed,’’ sources said. Sreedharan, during a visit to Bangalore on June 20, said DMRC was ready to offer its expertise to Bangalore Metro Rail and work as its consultant. He had expressed surprise that DMRC was not the consultant though the corporation had conceived the project for Bangalore and was a consultant for Metro projects across the country. TNN