No change in alignment on RV Road, says BMRCL chief

No change in alignment on RV Road, says BMRCL chief

DH New Service,Bangalore:

It is not Nanna Metro. But Namma and Nimma Metro. This is what N Sivasailam, the managing director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) said responding to constant protests from Hasiru Usiru against construction activity in Lalbagh.

Addressing reporters here on Tuesday, the BMRCL chief categorically stated there would be no change in the alignment of the R V Road terminal on Reach - 4 as well as any shifting of the proposed Lalbagh station. “Any change in alignment is the prerogative of the government (Centre and State). BMRCL is only the SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) to implement the metro project. Construction of the Lalbagh station has been awarded to L and T. It will commence within the next 10 to 15 days. We have not received any instruction from the government to stop work” Sivasailam said. Further clarifying on the protests by few green activists at Lalbagh, the BMRCL said the government vide its order (No 287/TUEV 2006), Bangalore and dated 25 February, 2009 has ceded 1135.18 sq.mtrs, a very small portion of land (.001 percent) of the total 250 acres of the historical botanical gardens. No commercial activities It also said the Lalbagh area would not house any commercial activity or multiplexes as alleged by Hasiru Usiru but will have a exit area on 960 sq.mtrs with emergency staircases and escalators for boarding and landing of passengers to the proposed station on R V Road. Number of trees to be cut may be reduced “The total number of trees identified to be cut down are 326 on this reach from Vanivilas Road to South End Circle. Finally, only 210 to 215 trees could be felled and some pruned. The area inside Lalbagh ceded to Namma Metro, houses 19 Eucalyptus trees. No permission is required to fell Eucalyptus trees. When, a total of 800 trees are being felled on Reach 2,3 and 4 why is a hue and cry being raised by certain sections of Bangaloreans only at Lalbagh.,” he said. He said BMRCL had already planted 15,000 saplings across the City to make up for the green cover. “If an underground alignment on this route (K R Road Station to R V Road Station) is carried out according to the demands of protesters, then further land has to be required in Lalbagh to provide ventilation and air-conditioning units for the station. These cannot be set up on the Road. We are also taking over eight private buildings on the opposite side of Lalbagh for the station ” Sivasailam explained. BMRCL also stated that it is a government undertaking, following government orders. “We are a law abiding organisation. Metro is an environmentally friendly project and Namma Metro is sensitive to environmental concerns” added Sivasailam.