‘Rs. 480 crore has been spent on metro rail’

‘Rs. 480 crore has been spent on metro rail’

Staff Reporter

State told to issue copies of statement of objections to parties

BANGALORE: The State Government on Tuesday said that Rs. 480 crore had been spent on the Bangalore Metro Rail project.

The State made this statement in the objections it filed in the High Court on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by C.M.H. Road Shops and Establishments and Residents Association.

The association had filed a petition challenging the legality and validity of the project. It said the project should have been taken up under the Indian Railways Act and not under the Mysore Tramways Act of 1906. The project had not obtained environmental clearance, it added. In its 22-page statement of objections, the State said the project could be taken up under the Tramways Act and there was no legal bar. Moreover, clearance for the project had been obtained from the Centre. The State said till March 2008, it spent Rs. 480 crore on the project. Any stoppage of the project would not be in public interest. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran and Justice V. Gopala Gowda asked the Government to issue copies of the statement to the parties concerned and adjourned further hearing to Wednesday.