Title - Government to review Namma Metro Phase 2

Move follows public outcry against change in alignments near Jayadeva Hospital, Mahadevapura

The new Congress government is likely to review the Namma Metro Phase 2 in the wake of public outcry against change in alignments near Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research and around Mahadevapura here.

“Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) Managing Director N. Sivasailam will make a presentation on Phase 2 to me on June 15,” Transport and Bangalore in-charge Minister R. Ramalinga Reddy said.

He told The Hindu that the government had come to know about the public inconvenience through the media as well as by those who would be affected. “Many who would be affected met me and poured out their grievances,” he said.

The Phase 2 of the Namma Metro project was finalised during the BJP government.

Jayadeva hospital is also an important public facility. At the same time, protecting the interests of property owners is also the concern of the government, he said.

Changes in alignment around Mahadevapura too would be looked into. The government would see that the interests of all would be safeguarded, Mr. Reddy said.

The Hindu had reported the sufferings of owners of over 90 properties that are bound to be razed owing to the changed alignment of the Jayadeva interchange station at the intersection of R.V. Road Terminal–Bommasandra and Gottigere–Nagavara lines under Namma Metro Phase 2. The station was to be located at a corner of the hospital’s vacant premises while the hospital pleaded with the government that it would severely affect the functioning of the premier health institute. As the station had to be shifted, the entire alignment on the stretch was moved on to the other side of the road, requiring large-scale acquisition of properties. Mr. Sivasailam himself had opposed the move, saying the original plan was the best and any change would require increased project cost and protracted litigation.

It had also been reported in these columns about deleting of Narayanapura station on the Byappanahalli–Whitefield line of the East–West extension line and changing the alignment of the line from Garudacharpalya till Hoody.

After the changed original alignment, the line would take a strange ‘U’ turn to join the original alignment before the Visvesvaraya Industrial Town Station.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. Adviser, S.N. Venkata Rao, who was part of preparation of the detailed project report for Namma Metro Phase 2, had told The Hindu that the DPR had suggested the best and most suitable alignment, after carefully considering all the aspects — minimum inconvenience and maximum benefit to the public and lesser project cost.