Tenders to build subways at metro stations cancelled

Commuters will have to keep bearing with the lack of safe access to Nagasandra and Dasarahalli metro stations as tenders to construct two subways have been cancelled.

Around 30,000 commuters use the Nagasandra and Dasarahalli metro stations everyday.

Though the 2.5-km metro line between Peenya and Nagasandra opened in May 2015, the tenders for the subways were invited only in September 2017.

Residents and pedestrians had criticised the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) for its apathy in providing a safe access to the two metro stations. The number of people crossing the busy national highway (Tumakuru Road) has doubled since the metro line opened, residents said. “Thousands of people use the Nagasandra metro station every day. Except for peak hours, when vehicles slow down due to congestion, the road sees fast-moving traffic. The authorities sat on our pleas for a subway for years. Now, the tenders have been cancelled,” said Subhash Shetty, a resident of Nagasandra and a member of the ward committee.

P Rajashekhar, who lost his daughter R Pooja when she was mowed down by a speeding vehicle while returning from the Nagasandra metro station, called it a mistake to declare the Phase 1 of Namma Metro complete without providing a safe access to the stations.

“Works that provide a safe access to metro stations cannot be separated from the main project of constructing the metro line. Hundreds of people have suffered grievous injuries because officials think it is not part of the metro,” he said.

BMRCL Managing Director Mahendra Jain could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts. A source in the corporation, however, said the tenders were cancelled as the bidder quoted an exorbitant amount.

An official said the BMRCL had received permission from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to use the land next to the highway for subway construction. “Retendering could not be done because of the model code of conduct. The project will be taken up on a priority basis soon,” the official added.