BMRCL likely to halt work on rly land

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) may have to suspend work on Railway land indefinitely if it does not receive permission to continue work by March 13  from the General Manager of South West Railways. 

The Corporation, in a press release issued on Saturday, has stated that the South West Railways (SWR) has issued a notice to the BMRCL asking it to pay an additional sum of Rs 125.70 crore towards the licence fee before commencement of work on the Railway land.

The demand is in addition to Rs 94 crore already deposited with the Railways by BMRCL about a year ago, pending final settlement of the issue.

The SWR has also stated that the Metro work on Platform Road may be stopped if the BMRCL is not ready to pay the balance amount.

The BMRCL says the State government has strong reservations about paying the sum.

According to the government, the amount payable towards the permanent and temporary acquisition does not exceed Rs 44 crore going by the classification of the land by the Ministry of Railways.

The Metro statement said the Union Ministry of Urban Development Department (MoUD) is also of the view that the tunnelled areas and cut and cover areas of underground structures do not amount to permanent acquisition, but are only a way leave facility and the amount payable to the railways is less than Rs 44 crore. The Department has referred the matter to the Empowered Committee of the Project headed by the Cabinet Secretary, Government of India, about two weeks ago. A meeting is yet to be convened.

The amount claimed by the Railways has not been included in the project estimates.
The Corporation has requested the General Manager, SWR to permit metro work on Railway land and if it does not receive permission, the project will have to be suspended.