Road to Development: Not the day for trees

Road to Development: Not the day for trees


A green RV Road where the Metro work is in progress.
Monica JhaFirst Published : 15 Jun 2009 08:07:16 AM ISTLast Updated : 15 Jun 2009 08:43:00 AM IST
BANGALORE: The much-talked about ‘green’ RV Road might hit the headlines again; and for the same reason- Namma Metro.
As the High Court of Karnataka, cleared the way for Metro on RV Road and the civil work is to yet to pick pace for Phase I, there are talks of some more metro-related developments on this road in Phase II.
“An integration point of Phase I and Phase II metro rail lines might come up on the RV Road in Phase II,” a source in the government told the Express.
On whether more trees would have to be felled for this, he said: “There will be two stations on this road in Phase I. One of the existing stations would be chosen for integration of lines, however, the interchange would require more space for which more area would have to be acquired. Some trees might be required to be felled in that case.” “It is a people vs trees case. Where should the interchange come up, if not on RV Road? In a densely populated area, where buildings need to be demolished and people have to be displaced?” he asked.
BMRCL hasn’t confirmed The BMRCL, however, has not confirmed the news yet. MD, BMRCL, N Sivasailam, said: “The detailed project report (DPR) for Phase II still is two months away. Only after the DPR is ready, the BMRCL will be given the options for interchanges in different areas and will have to decide on one in each case. We have no idea about the possible or potential interchanges/ stations in Phase II as yet.” Alignment and DPR Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is the consultant for Phase II and has been working on the DPR. The DPR is expected to follow the Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Plan for Bangalore prepared by RITES, a Government of India enterprise