<p>The war of words that has erupted between Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) and the citizens’ groups over the location of the Cantonment Metro station and the proposed change in alignment must be settled soon. Even as BMRCL was facing flak for relocating the metro station from the Cantonment railway station parking lot to the Bamboo Bazar playground some distance away, it has stoked further controversy by changing the original alignment between Pottery Road and Shivajinagar. Namma Metro virtually bulldozed BBMP into handing over the playground despite strong resistance from local residents who feared that the only open space for play and recreation for thousands of schoolchildren in the neighbourhood would be lost. There was also concern that without proper connectivity to Cantonment railway station and bus terminus, commuters would be put to a lot of hardship. BMRCL must aim to integrate all modes of transport.<br /><br />Namma Metro Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola, who has otherwise been doing a good job, has sought to douse the fire by offering some solutions and explanations. He says BMRCL will provide seamless connectivity to Cantonment railway station from Cantonment Metro through a travelator and a new entrance, and the distance will not be more than 150 metres. He claims that several “technical, operational, financial and safety considerations” had led BMRCL to position the Metro station at Bamboo Bazar. The new alignment, he emphasises, will shorten the route by 800 metres, reduce the cost by Rs 1,000 crore and, more importantly, avoid tunnelling of 1.8 km which, if undertaken, would pose engineering and safety issues.<br /><br />In the normal course, people would have taken BMRCL’s word in good faith. After all, its engineers have done a fine job in executing challenging underground tunnelling work in the first phase in the Majestic and City Market areas, and if the idea of a new alignment came from them, it had to be trusted. But so far as the Cantonment Metro station is concerned, the BMRCL has done so many flip-flops that it has left many people wondering whether it is acting under the pressure of vested interests. The residents’ groups have pointed out that the risk of tunnelling below 30 metres and beyond 900 metres in length is exaggerated — Delhi Metro built a 3-km tunnel over a decade ago — and BMRCL was merely trying to scare people into submission. Whatever the truth, the government needs to clear the air, once for all, by calling a joint meeting of all stakeholders, including the people’s representatives, as the safety of the Metro service is everyone’s concern. As the project is already behind schedule, it cannot brook any further delay.<br /></p>
<p>The war of words that has erupted between Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) and the citizens’ groups over the location of the Cantonment Metro station and the proposed change in alignment must be settled soon. Even as BMRCL was facing flak for relocating the metro station from the Cantonment railway station parking lot to the Bamboo Bazar playground some distance away, it has stoked further controversy by changing the original alignment between Pottery Road and Shivajinagar. Namma Metro virtually bulldozed BBMP into handing over the playground despite strong resistance from local residents who feared that the only open space for play and recreation for thousands of schoolchildren in the neighbourhood would be lost. There was also concern that without proper connectivity to Cantonment railway station and bus terminus, commuters would be put to a lot of hardship. BMRCL must aim to integrate all modes of transport.<br /><br />Namma Metro Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola, who has otherwise been doing a good job, has sought to douse the fire by offering some solutions and explanations. He says BMRCL will provide seamless connectivity to Cantonment railway station from Cantonment Metro through a travelator and a new entrance, and the distance will not be more than 150 metres. He claims that several “technical, operational, financial and safety considerations” had led BMRCL to position the Metro station at Bamboo Bazar. The new alignment, he emphasises, will shorten the route by 800 metres, reduce the cost by Rs 1,000 crore and, more importantly, avoid tunnelling of 1.8 km which, if undertaken, would pose engineering and safety issues.<br /><br />In the normal course, people would have taken BMRCL’s word in good faith. After all, its engineers have done a fine job in executing challenging underground tunnelling work in the first phase in the Majestic and City Market areas, and if the idea of a new alignment came from them, it had to be trusted. But so far as the Cantonment Metro station is concerned, the BMRCL has done so many flip-flops that it has left many people wondering whether it is acting under the pressure of vested interests. The residents’ groups have pointed out that the risk of tunnelling below 30 metres and beyond 900 metres in length is exaggerated — Delhi Metro built a 3-km tunnel over a decade ago — and BMRCL was merely trying to scare people into submission. Whatever the truth, the government needs to clear the air, once for all, by calling a joint meeting of all stakeholders, including the people’s representatives, as the safety of the Metro service is everyone’s concern. As the project is already behind schedule, it cannot brook any further delay.<br /></p>
