City greenery will be preserved: Minister

The Minister who presented to Parliament the review of annual report and audited statement of accounts of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), said that the project has ensured that the cutting and pruning of trees would be minimal.

He said around 1,500 trees are required to be removed as per the alignment. For compensating this loss, 15,000 saplings have been planted at the rate of 1:10 in the land provided by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) and Forest Department. Trees planted as compensation have been nurtured and maintained by BMRCL at a total project cost of about Rs 64 lakh for a period of three years.  

To put construction of the Metro on fast track, 95 per cent of land acquisition is completed and demolition of building in Reach-1 and Reach-2 has been completed to an extent of 60 per cent. Tendering process is on the fast track and entire tendering process is expected to complete by mid of 2009.