Metro is overground because of rock, cost

He addressed the members of the residents’ welfare associations from Indira Nagar area who had convened a meeting on Friday to clear their doubts pertaining to Metro Rail. People tossed many questions ranging from security concerns, fares, issues related to the physically challenged persons including the visually impaired, combo offer with BMTC, non-payment of compensation to property losers and toilets in the station.

Former DGP S C Burman wanted to know why Metro was elevated in Bangalore, while elsewhere in the world it was underground. Sivasailam replied that underground metro cost four times the elevated one.

He added that the metro rail would go underground only for a distance of eight km out of the total 42 km-long route. The present seven-km run of the Metro Rail from Byappanahalli to MG Road will not impact road traffic, but once the entire 42-km  metro rail route becomes operational, it will help reduce the traffic burden on Bangalore roads, he assured.

No compensation yet

A woman complained to Sivasailam during the interaction that her elderly relative, a woman living alone, is forced to run from pillar to post as she could not get any compensation till today. Sivasailam told her that it is not the BMRCL, but the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) looking into the compensation. “The BMRCL has enough money with it. It has given Rs 100 crore to KIADB to pay compensation. People will have to approach KIADB,” said Sivasailam.