Among the routes that Metro Rail will chug along, is CMH Road, home to a large number of traders. That these traders are opposed to the Metro Rail project is not unknown. Whether CMH Road needs a Metro Rail project at all, has been debated for long.
The CMH Road has approximately 900 shops — both small and big. Some 4,000-plus people earn their bread from these establishments everyday. The anxiety of the shop owners and traders regarding the rail project seems to be increasing as the date for starting work on the rail bridge nears. Work is expected to begin within the next three months.
“While the width of CMH Road is between 45 ft - 60 ft, the Metro Rail project requires at least 75 ft for construction of the pillars, which are to come up in the middle of the existing road. So most shops will have to make way for road widening,” says CMH Road Shops and Establishments Association President Imtiaz Ahmed. Other shop owners point out that Old Madras Road would have been a better option, since it is wider and doesn’t have as many commercial establishments or road intersections that CMH Road has.
Srinivasan of Lakshmi Departmental Store says, “The brouhaha over the metro project started three years ago but we still don’t know what exactly is happening. What is clear though is that once work begins, we will not be able to conduct business.”
Srivatsa of Ganesh Medicals is all for Mono Rail as it would have served the same purpose without using the space that Metro Rail is taking. “Irrespective of compensation we get, it is going to be very difficult to relocate businesses as rents are high everywhere,” he laments. Imtiaz Ahmed adds, “We have made a representation to every authority concerned. We have now approached the High Court and will go to the Supreme Court, if needed.”

Official’s take
Reacting to these concerns, V Madhu, the executive director of Metro Rail Corporation, says, “Metro is meant to reduce traffic problems faced by people and is not a picnic spot. Surveys have identified CMH Road and 100 Ft Road as among the busiest roads, hence the project was planned here. All shops will not require to shut down. We will acquire 23 properties near SV Road and 11 private properties near the junction of CMH Road and Indiranagar and they will given adequate compensation. Though people will face hardships now, they will benefit many fold once the project begins.”

(Translated by PR)