PM to flag off Metro in Sept

The Centre, meanwhile, revised upward the project cost of the first phase from Rs 8,158 crore to Rs 11,609 crore and extended the completion date to December 2013. The CM met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his Parliament Office on Tuesday and requested him to inaugurate the metro rail in the first week of September. The PM opted a date in the second week citing his Bangladesh visit in the first week of September.

Appraising the PM on the progress of Metro Rail construction, the CM said the Reach one of Stage I (Byappanahalli to M G Road) was ready for commercial operations as it had been  approved by the Commissioner for Railway Safety.

The Empowered Group of Ministers on Mass Rapid Transit System chaired by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, also extended the completion date from June 2011 to December 2013.

The EGOM, attended by senior officials including Urban Development Secretary Navin Kumar, Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Bangalore Metro officials, has also approved the cost-sharing pattern as recommended by the Empowered Committee.

Karnataka would bear additional financial burden of Rs 1,532.40 crore and the Centre an additional Rs 684.86 crore. Rest of the escalated cost would be raised by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation which is responsible for implementation of the project, sources in the government told Deccan Herald.

The meeting also decided that the Karnataka government and the Centre would have equal equity (50:50) in the Bangalore Metro project.