Integration of transport system our priority: Metro chief

BMRCL managing director Pradeep Singh Kharola said integration of transport was their priority while citizen activists are protesting BMRCL's decision to shift the Cantonment Metro station nearly a kilometre away from the railway station.

Kharola was speaking at an interaction with members of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) on Saturday. 

When a member of FKCCI asked about the location of the Cantonment Metro station, Kharola declined to make a statement. However, he acknowledged that public convenience was important.

“The immediate priority is integration with the railways. The work at city railway station is already half done and there is huge scope for integration in Yeshwantpur, too. In Phase II, we are trying to make the Metro stations as close to the railway stations as possible,” he said.

Kharola said that in Phase II, there would be better integration with all transport as nearly every station will have service roads on either side. “It will be ideal as there won’t be congestion on the main road. It will be smooth. As ridership is going up, we should focus on integration,” he said.

Kharola said planning of alignment for Phase II had been done carefully in a manner that would require minimum land acquisition. He said land utilisation would be better and the Metro stretch would be better designed. BMRCL is also being careful to avoid retendering in Phase II to prevent delays.

Kharola spoke of the many challenges they faced during the construction of Phase I of the Metro, particularly the underground stretches. Shifting of utilities like sewage and power lines, controlled blasting of rocks and doing construction only at night, were some of them.

FKCCI submitted a memorandum to BMRCL, which includes, among other things, a first-class coach and exclusive coaches for women. They have also suggested clean toilets, even if on a chargeable basis.