The Kannada Development Authority on Tuesday instructed Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) to stop delaying the implementation of a two-language policy across Namma Metro stations and asked it to remove Hindi signage without waiting for instructions from the State government.
After conducting an inspection at several stations on Tuesday, chairperson S.G. Siddaramaiah said the choice of a tri-language policy was a mistake made in 2012 that should be rectified immediately. Addressing BMRCL officials, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, “We will have to recommend action against officials who took the decision to implement the tri-language policy in 2012. When you have pointed out to the Union government that BMRCL is not a Central government PSU, where is the doubt?”
According to Mr. Siddaramaiah, last year the State government, through its then Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav, had written to the Centre opposing the use of Hindi across Namma Metro. The letter stated that BMRCL could not be considered as a Government of India PSU and so the mandate of using Hindi under the Official Language Act was not applicable to BMRCL.
However, BMRCL maintained its stand that the removal of Hindi signage and adoption of a two-language policy would only be implemented in consultation with the State government.
Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola told Mr. Siddaramaiah that BMRCL hopes to speak to the State government under the KDA’s guidance and find a solution.
