Metro, greenery can co-exist: BMRCL

Jayanagar residents’ much-awaited demand for public consultations on the ‘Namma Metro’ project was met here on Friday.

N Sivasailam, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) MD assured the residents that the Metro is not incompatible to the Garden City and that the project and greenery can co-exist.

“Out of the 323 trees on R V Road alignment, only 188 have been identified for pruning. Some of these will have to make way for the project. As per norms two trees will have to be planted for every tree felled. But, the BMRCL has gone a step ahead and will plant trees in the ratio of 1:5. As many as 15,000 trees have already been planted. Tree cover enhances beauty of Metro stations. We are for it,” he said.

The BMRCL chief spoke in response to an invitation by the Federation of Jayanagar Residents’ Associations, at an interactive meet also attended by B N Vijayakumar, Jayanagar MLA  and members of various citizen groups, including ‘Hasiru Usiru’
BMRCL also allayed concern of green groups and said there is no provision for construction of malls or private vehicle parking facilities around Namma Metro stations.

“There is no provision in the Detailed Project Report for alleged commercial activity near stations. First preference will be accorded to pedestrians and secondly for bus users.

The whole concept is to shift vehicle users to Metro. There is no element of property development,” he said.

Jayanagar MLA B N Vijayakumar said the residents associations will soon form a committee of 5 to 7 persons to address all issues, pertaining to the Metro on Reach 4.

The association will again meet on Saturday at 8 am near Rajalakshmi Kalyana Mantapa, Jayanagar for a  review of the alignment on Nanda Road. It will be attended by senior officials from BMRCL, Vijayakumar and members of the association.