Metro’s historical change of course

Metro’s historical change of course



Monica JhaFirst Published : 08 Jun 2009 08:06:36 AM ISTLast Updated : 08 Jun 2009 08:45:43 AM IST
BANGALORE: Protests, litigations and then some more. Namma Metro is no stranger to these. The greens cry hoarse that nothing can make the Metro change its course. But now, something has.
The BMRCL has actually changed the design of the proposed Metro station at Banshankari after objections from the Endowment Department.
The Banashankari Metro station is to come up opposite the historic Banashankari Temple and one of the staircases (approach to the station) was designed to be built on the temple premises. However, after a look at the drawings of the proposed structure, the Endowment Department objected to it and asked for alterations.
“It was a minor change and could be accommodated.
We’ve shifted a staircase by two metres, considering the religious significance to leave the area open. The staircase is still on the temple premises. It was a small change in design and could be accommodated. And the temple, in fact, is giving us slightly more land than planned earlier for the purpose,” said MD, BMRCL, N Saivasailam.
According to the earlier design, the staircase was to fall into Devamoola (God’s place). Devamoola, the area to the north-east of a temple, is believed to be a spiritually elevated zone and is recommended to be used for meditation.
Considering the Endowment Department’s objection, the BMRCL has also changed the location of a pier, which was to come on the temple permises. The pier now comes in the vacant land in the temple’s possession. The change could be achieved just by changing the length of a span from 28 m to 31 m, Sivasailam explained.
Minister for Muzrai and Housing, Es En Krisnaiah Setty, visited the temple on May 22 and said that the Endowment Department had written to the BMRCL seeking alterations near the Banashankari temple. However, there have been no changes in the alignment.
Only the design of the station was slightly altered, after a discussion between the Endowment Department and the BMRCL recently.
Not exclusive On whether this was an exclusive case, in which the BMRCL has made changes, Sivasailam said: “No, this is not an exclusive case. There are other instances in which we have considered the plea of the affected party. The design of the proposed station at Peenya Industrial Area in the northern extension of the network was altered too. We considered the objection and altered the design.”