Metro: Project runs into a pillar

Metro: Project runs into a pillar
DH News Service, Bangalore:

The High Court has stayed the construction of a pillar by the metro rail project in front of the house of a petitioner on CMH Road.
Delay in completion of metro rail project has cost the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation dear by about Rs 1,500 crore, taking the total cost to almost Rs 8,000 crore. But the project seems to be further delayed with Devaki Natarajan, a resident of CMH Road obtaining a stay in December.

The petitioner, a senior citizen, has moved the High Court saying that the alignment is in such a manner that a portion of the house will be gone and the building will be rendered useless, if a portion is acquired. The matter, which has already cost the BMRC two-and-a-half months delay, has led to the apprehensions that it might be further delayed. The BMRCL says that no work can be taken up without that pillar and has sought to vacate the stay. “The project is stalled just because of this litigation, we hope we will get a relief soon, we have already completed our argument, it is now for the Government to furnish details,” said B V Acharya, senior counsel representing BMRCL.

Top BMRCL official said that they are already feeling the heat as the contractors are already demanding the land for construction activities, saying that they are not responsible for the delay as the BMRCL has failed to handover the land for the project. “The contractors say that they will claim damages for the delay caused by a one pillar, affecting the entire project,” said a top source from BMRC.