CM speaks his mind on Metro delay

CM speaks his mind on Metro delay

BMRCL officials told to finish work on time to reduce traffic woes of Bangaloreans

By Bangalore Mirror Bureau
Posted On Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Losing his cool over the slow pace at which the Namma Metro project is chugging on, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Tuesday gave the officials of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials a good tongue-lashing.

“Be honest. Finish the work on time if you are really serious about reducing the traffic-related woes for Bangaloreans,” he said while releasing a report card on completion of 100 days of the first BJP government.

Yeddyurappa, who holds the Bangalore development portfolio, has come in for criticism from the city’s denizens for the tardy pace of the Metro rail project. According to BMRCL officials, reach one of the project (from M G Road to Byappanahalli) is six months behind schedule and the delay has been attributed to problems pertaining to land acquisition and awarding contracts to execute works.

Directing the officials to fast track work, the CM suggested BMRCL officials to go into for short-term tenders as that would save implementation time. He presented a cheque for Rs 200 crore to BMRCL. Though the CM’s missive complicates matters for BMRCL as it has been calling global tenders, it comes as a succour to motorists who are putting up with traffic snarls caused due to construction activity at the project site.

Meanwhile, the BMRCL board has finally given its approval for the proposed extension of the north-south corridor of Namma Metro. The track will be extended from Yeshwanthpur to Hesaraghatta Cross in reach three and from RV Road to Jaragenahalli in reach four of the project. The deadline, following the extension, has been reset to August 2012. An additional Rs 1500 crore has been earmarked for the extended track.

“With this extension, two more new stations will be added to each reach. While the stations are Dasarahalli and Hessarghatta cross on the Yeshwanthpur track, on the R V Road track the stations will come up at J P Nagar traffic signal near Banashankari and another one at Jaragenahalli,” a BMRCLA official said.