Second line of Bangalore Metro to open in September

Bangalore, July 16: Metro train services here would be extended with the launch of 10.3 km line connecting industrial hub of Peenya and Sampige Road Station in the city from September.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in a written reply to a question by Appaji Nadagouda (Congress) in the Legislative Assembly, noted that this stretch of 10.30 km has 10 stations.

Trains would run between Jalahalli and Hesaraghatta Cross(2.5 km stretch) from March next.

Change of metro alignment at the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology would cost additional Rs 145 crore to the State exchequer.

Metro phase 2

Meanwhile, officials said clearance from the Centre for the 'Namma Metro' works of phase-II covering 72 kms at a cost of Rs 26,045 crore is expected shortly.

The government has done a feasibility study for suburban rail system connecting Bangalore to Tumkur and Ramanagaram, among others. The project is expected to cost Rs 8,759 crore.

A detailed project report for phase-I would be prepared,officials said, adding special purpose -- Bangalore Sub-UrbanRail Corporation -- would be set up for implementing this project.

Public toilets in Bangalore

Karnataka Government is considering to formulate a sanitation policy, Siddaramaiah said today. Speaking during question hour in the Assembly, he said the government would take steps to increase the number of pay and use public toilets in Bangalore.

Responding to Roshan Baig (Congress), he said there are a total of 504 toilets in the city run by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and private agencies.

Baig said the city needs at least 5,000 such toilets. In the budget speech last week, the Chief Minister said action would be initiated for construction of six lakh household toilets in rural areas in 2013-14 under 'Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan'.

He had also announced that a separate rural water supply and sanitation department would be created for effective implementation and efficient monitoring of drinking water programmes implemented in rural areas.

Permanent HC Benches

Siddaramaiah also said the Central government on June 27 last approved the proposal of the State government to convert the circuit benches of High Court of Karnataka at Dharwad and Gulbarga as permament benches.

He said he would write to the Centre vis-a-vis notification for operationalising the move.

Ten judges each need to be transferred to Dharwad and Gulbarga from High Court here, Siddaramaiah noted.

PTI