Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., (BMRCL) celebrated the first anniversary of the beginning of commercial operations on Reach 1 between Byappanahalli and Mahatma Gandhi Road by felicitating freedom fighters in Bangalore on Saturday.
Pulled up
The event also witnessed one of the prominent and eminent freedom fighters, H.S. Doreswamy, lashing out at the corporation for its laxity in the upkeep of roads along the Namma Metro alignment. He said that people have been suffering for over three years because of the appalling condition of the roads.
Mr. Doreswamy said that despite holding protests and threatening blockade of Mahakavi Kuvempu Road between Devaiah Park and Navarang along the alignment of Reach 3, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) as well as BMRCL continued to sit on their hands. Responding to Mr. Doreswamy’s rebuke, BMRCL Managing Director N. Sivasailam said that the State government and the palike planned to not only restore the roads but also upgrade them with drains, pavements and utility ducts.
BMRCL invited freedom fighters with the help of Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi, Bangalore, and Gandhi Grama Trust, Hubli.
Those felicitated included Ho. Srinivasaiah (89), Shivappa Undali from Hukkeri (102), Vidyadhara Guruji (100) from Gulbarga, Mahadevappa Pattana (102) from Ramadurga, Namadeva Shendwe (88) from Mangalore and others.
In the evening, a rent-a-bicycle service and the first outlet of a coffee chain at the Namma Metro station was inaugurated. Those who wish to rent a bicycle have to register themselves by providing a copy of their identity card.
