RailEnquiry

BANGALORE: The state government acceding to the plea from Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research to realign the Namma Metro Phase II route was just a flash in the pan. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) was flooded with requests for Phase II realignment, mostly from those affected in the Whitefield-Hoodi belt, who were keen on saving their properties. But the utility put its foot down and declined to change the alignment. In fact, realignment was a demand of thousands of residents of Jayanagar V Block on the Phase II stretch between RV Road and Bommasandra. Residents put forward five alternative proposals to save properties and parks. BMRC rejected four of the proposals and promised to look into the fifth, to shift a proposed station by a few feet. Innmar Tourist and Hotels was perhaps one of the first to seek realignment along the Whitefield stretch, to save its parking area. The building is on Kundanahalli Road, where a station is coming up on the of Byappanahalli-Whitefield line. BMRC turned down the plea. Next came BS Hamsaraj, proprietor of Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) on Whitefield Road. He pleaded: "The proposed Metro line will pass through our newly constructed project site No 120-A2 within EPIP premises... I request you to kindly change the alignment without causing destruction to our project site." BMRC declined the request, citing that the "property location is situated in the proposed station area of Vaidehi Hospital station...the final location survey is done...the alignment chosen avoids the bus depot, a public amenity". Abhilash Software Development Centre is also likely to be partially razed to give way for the Metro line towards Whitefield. Owners of the tech park occupying 1.53 acres and housing many multinational companies also requested an alignment change to save their business, but in vain. No station in Hoodi Incidentally, Hoodi villagers and former MLA Arvind Limbavalli requested realignment of the Byappanahalli-Whitefield line through Hoodi village and a station for the residents. Basavanagar, Rajapalya, Shantinagara, Kodihalli and Ayyappanagara are some places where apartments have come up. This request, too, was turned down. Prasad Technology Park in Whitefield also requested that pillars not be erected through their property and suggested an alternative location for the station close to Central Warehousing Corporation. BMRC replied that the land is required for a viaduct and not a station, and an alternative station is not feasible as the original one is close to the BMTC bus station and will be a good inter-modal transit centre. Sri Balaji Corporate Services in EPIP also requested that half their building be saved. To all these petitions, BMRCL replied that technically, alignment changes are not possible and turned them down. Boon to Vysya Bank Layout residents The Jayadeva Hospital realignment on the RV Road-Bommasandra and Gottigere-Nagavara Metro lines has not only benefited the hospital, it's left scores of residents of Vysya Bank Layout in BTM 1st Stage relieved. The alignment change saves their dream homes from being bulldozed partially. The land for the layout was acquired by the bank in 1968-69 and after a long-drawn struggle, the employees got 12 acres of land. Soon after the layout was sanctioned, civic authorities planned the Inner Ring Road through the layout. The houses were reduced in size from 60X40 to 50X30. When Phase II was approved in 2012 by the state government, the layout residents, mostly retired employees of the bank, petitioned BMRC to change the alignment and save their houses and a temple in the area. But now with realignment, the residents are relieved. "We had a lot of worries if BMRC had persisted with its plan for the interchange on Jayadeva Hospital premises, as the tracks leading to Bommasandra would've occupied a portion of our land. The change of alignment away from the hospital has saved the layout," said MS Sreenivas Murthy. He is one of the 10 residents who had requested the BMRC to change the alignment.