Trees no obstacle for Metro: Expert

Trees no obstacle for Metro: Expert
or Met CHANDRASHEKAR G.
DC | BENGALURU


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EX-DELHI METRO CHIEF SAYS LOSS CAN BE COMPENSATED WITH MORE SAPLINGS tro: Ex “The Metro Rail could not have been taken underground at all the places in Bengaluru as the cost of the project would have gone up by at least two-and-a-half times.” after a survey and study, he

Cutting of trees is inevitable to carry out mega and mass rapid transportation projects like Namma Metro in Bengaluru and the project should not be delayed. Even cities like Delhi had to cut trees to enable a smooth passage for the Metro from one part of the city to the other, said Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) managing director E. Sreedharan.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle after unveiling Metro coaches manufactured by Canada-based company Bombardier at Baroda in Gujarat, he said BMRC has taken adequate measures to plant trees to compensate for the trees that were axed.

DMRC too planted trees at the ratio of 10 plants for every tree felled.

There is no other option or alternative that can be provided in such cases. The alignment has been frozen after a survey and study, he said.

Admitting that he is aware of the fact that environmentalists and green activists are protesting against the tree felling, he said any obstacles including trees and buildings have to be removed for smooth flow of infrastructure projects and to help solve traffic congestion in the city.

Replying to a query, Mr Sreedharan said the Metro Rail could not have been taken underground at all the places in Bengaluru as the cost of the project would xpert have gone up by at least two-and-a-half times. An elevated Metro project can be completed easily and is also cost-effective. The Metro project in Bengaluru is going on at a good pace, said Mr Sreedharan.

Karnataka will also be getting a High Speed Rail Link to the Bengaluru International Airport to make commuting to BIA easy and save transportation time.

The Karnataka government has already expressed interest in taking up the HSRL project under publicprivate partnership mode.

The project will be executed under Build Operate Transfer method, he added.

Asked about the Hyderabad Metro project going off track, he said the Andhra Pradesh government is mulling over options like taking up the project on their own by mobilising funds or inviting fresh tenders.

It is left to the government’s discretion, Mr Sreedharan said.