1st rail of Metro Project to become operational in 3 yrs

Bangalore, Mar 10: With the Union Government giving final clearance for sanctioning Rs 6,300 crore for the Bangalore Metro Rail Project, the first rail of the metro is likely to become operational between Byappanahalli-Cricket Stadium stretch within three years.

Informing this to reporters here, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) Managing Director M K Srivathsava said he said the proposal would be placed before the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for clearance on March 16.

He said that the BMRCL, without waiting for the appointment of general consultants for the execution of the project, would beging the civil works for the seven km stretch between Byappanahalli and the Cricket Statium soon.

Mr Srivathsava informed that the earth-breaking ceremony would be held in the first week of next month by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy. Logo for the mega project would be selected from the over 400 entries received from public and released by the Governor at the Raj Bhavan on March 13.

The BMRCL's corporate office would be inaugurated in the city on March 15, he added.

Mr Shrivathsava said the state government had released to the BMRCL over Rs 492 crore, including Rs 400 crore collected through petrol cess.

He said over 25 companies had participated in the tender for the construction work of elevated portion of the project and the work would awarded within the next two and a half months.

Mr Shrivathsava said tender had also been floated for appointment of general consultants for taking up project execution and the cost of the consultants would be borne by the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Stating that no difficulty was faced in acquiring land for the prestigious project, he said that already over 100 acres of defence land had been handed over to the BMRCL and certain formalities need to be completed before acquiring land belonging to the Central government agencies. On acquisition of private lands, he said the Justice Shivashankar Committee, constituted by the State Government to go into the complaints of traders and residents off CMH road against the project, had already heard their views and that of the BMRCL.

Traders and residents of the area were against the proposed metroline near the CMH road.

He said the state government would take a final decision on the issue after receiving the Committee's report and hinted at possibilities of slight change in alignment of the proposed metro line near the CMH road.

Mr Shrivathsava said to avoid legal disputes, the BMRCL had decided to go in for 'free consent award' while paying compensation to those giving up their lands for the project.

He informed that the entire rolling stock, costing Rs 853 crore, would be supplied by Public sector Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML). The BMRCL had placed orders to BEML for 180 coaches initially and it would require another 90 to operate the entire stretch of 36.5 km in the first phase, he added.

He said the Mono Rail could function as a supplementary and feeder service to the Metro Rail and Mr Kumaraswamy had already clarified on this issue.

Giving the financial structure of the project, he said the state would contribute Rs 1,800 crore, the Centre Rs 1,500 crore, the JBIC Rs 1,800 crore and the Indian banks 1,200 crore. While the Indian Banks would be charging 8.5 per cent, the JBIC only 1.5 per cent, he added.

UNI

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