'Namma Metro is safe'

This was announced by N Sivasailam, the managing director of ‘Namma Metro’ here. The BMRCL chief accompanied, S Raghu, MLA of C V Raman Nagar constituency on a tour of Metro construction works at Chinmaya Mission Hospital (CMH) Road, 100 ft Road and Old Madras Road in Halasoor on Reach 1. Mr Sivasailam denied reports that safety aspects have been ignored by BMRCL in the City.

“We are sensitive to people’s problems and due care is taken to ensure that their concerns are met. There is a safety team on the job by BMRCL. Nothing has been violated. There are reports that the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study was done years ago. Bangalore Metro is not legally required to conduct a study. All studies have been done as per guidelines. We take serious objection to anybody levelling false allegations against us” he said.

S Raghu told BMRCL officials to ensure compliance to safety issues and instructed them to asphalt, few stretches of CMH Road that has been riddled with potholes, due to construction activity there.

Eye-opener

Meanwhile, Imtiaz Ahmed, president of CMH Road Shops and Establishments Association who was present when the MLA visited CMH Road said, the Delhi Metro incident is an eye-opener for ‘Namma Metro’ authorities as well.

“There have been more than seven accidents involving Metro on CMH Road itself. Safety is of primary concern to business establishments as well as residents of Indiranagar” he said. Calling for more transparency by BMRCL in the execution of the project, Narayan Rao, a project manager with Navayuga Engineering Construction, the contractor on Reach 1, said safety has never been ignored by his company. “We have been following all aspects involved in safety.  Regular inspections have been done at the girder launching stage. There is no scope for any Delhi-like accident” he said.