Bangalore Metro assures safety

Bangalore Metro assures safety


Express Features First Published : 09 Apr 2009 08:41:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 09 Apr 2009 10:05:56 AM IST
BANGALORE: The construction work on underground section of metro rail network would not cause any security concerns for the sensitive Vidhana Soudha and High Court, assures Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), the nodal agency to implement the rail project.
The alternate road proposed, through Vidhana Soudha lawn, would run between fences on either of its sides. Vidhana Soudha already has a fence that separates its premises from the road. Now, BMRCL would put one more fence and lay a temporary road between the fences.
Similarly, a new road has been proposed to be laid through the High Court lawn as well. Besides this, the Vidhana Soudha and High Cour t would continue to have the usual security arrangements.
The new temporary one-way roads are proposed to be laid as part of an alternative traffic management plan to divert traffic when the stretch between Gopala Gowda Circle and GPO is closed for traffic movement due to civil works for metro rail. An underground metro station is to come up in front of Vidhana Soudha. The traffic plan has already been approved by the high power committee of ministers. The state government has already cleared the proposal for a new one-way road cutting into Vidhana Soudha lawns.
However, clearance from the High Court is still awaited. Tender for work in underground section are expected to be finalised on April 9. The contractor is expected to be ready for work by May 15 and civil work would start in about a month after that. The stretch in front of Vidhana Soudha would be closed for traffic for two years. Widening of Seshadri Road and Palace Road would help traffic manage traffic around Ambedkar Veedhi.
The 6.76 km underground section will have eight underground stations: one each at Vidhana Soudha, Cricket Stadium, Central College, City Railway Station, Chickpet, and City Market, and two at Majestic.
The work in the underground section would be carried out using a cut and close method wherein the earth will be opened to work and covered after the station work is over. After the work is completed, BMRCL would remove the barricades and re-do the lawns.
Courting trouble The BMRCL had recently approached the Karnataka High Court for permission to temporarily take over part of the lawns in front of its building (facing the Vidhana Soudha) and also to acquire two small pieces of land belonging to the Cubbon Park.
They were seeking permission to close Ambedkar Veedhi between GPO Circle and Gopala Gowda Circle for the construction of an underground metro station.
As this process would include digging, the BMRCL had proposed two roads on either side of the construction site to facilitate movement of traffic.
It had proposed to take over temporarily and till the completion of the underground stretch the lawns in front of the Vidhana Soudha and High Court for forming the roads. As the lawns in front of the High Court belong to the court, BMRCL had requested permission of the High Court.