A bid to demystify metro myths

A bid to demystify metro myths


Metro chief Sivasailam and Jayanagar MLA Vijayakumar discussing issues of Metro works with Jayanagar residents in Bangalore on Saturday.
Express News ServiceFirst Published : 10 May 2009 05:26:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 10 May 2009 08:23:45 AM IST
BANGALORE: After three weeks of allegations, clarifications and protests, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and Hasiru Usiru (HU) finally discussed the issues related to the metro rail alignment and tree-felling in Jayanagar on Saturday morning, though not in a perfectly cordial atmosphere.
The BMRCL's interaction with residents of the area ended on a positive note. The Federation of Jayanagar Residents' Associations, which brought the BMRCL to the neighbourhood to address the concerns of the residents regarding the metro rail work, welcomed them with banners extending their support to Namma Metro.
BMRCL officials went on a 'padayatra' on the Nanda Theatre Road, walking and talking with the residents of the area, clarifying their doubts and responding to their suggestions while the HU supporters, including children and senior citizens, demonstrated with placards and banners at the 32nd Cross on the same road.
BMRCL managing director N Sivasailam demonstrated some best convincing skills supported with facts and figures, and a `convinced' former deputy mayor, Sriramegowda, announced that he would take his petition back that he had filed in the court last week against the proposed tree-felling in Jayanagar.
Sivasailam assured the residents that the BMRCL would adopt three different markings for trees coming in the areas marked for metro stations- trees to be felled, trees to be pruned, and trees in the BMRCL property to be retained. He asked the associations to identify species that the BMRCL could plant to maintain greenery in the area.
The padayatra culminated at the Boulevard, where the BMRCL and the federation met up with the HU, and where Sivasailam showed one more of his skills- patience.
Amidst hooting from the HU supporters, he clarified that the alignment, decided by the state and the Union governments, was not going to be changed.