BBMP to chip in with land for parking near Metro stations

Reach 4 connecting Sampige Road to Peenya will be open to public by November-end

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy inspecting Namma Metro work near National College, in Basavanagudi, in Bangalore on Tuesday. Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

A special convoy led by State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy got a taste of the horrible condition of roads along the under-construction Reach 4 and Reach 2 of the Namma Metro here on Tuesday.

Though the stated purpose of the visit was to check on Metro construction works, the discussions during the site inspection invariably veered to the state of roads along the stretch. Mayor Satyanarayana submitted a memorandum to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) regarding the poor state of roads along three Metro lines, namely the K.R. Road, Peenya and Kanakapura Road.

In a discussion held at the site of the upcoming Metro Station near National College, Mr. Reddy said that BBMP land located near the station could be developed into a parking lot. He was reacting to BMRCL chairman Pradeep Singh Kharola, who said the authority did not have enough land to build parking space to meet the requirements of all commuters who are expected to use this station. “We will work on identifying BBMP land in such places to expand parking facilities. Also, bus feeder services will be strengthened.” Mr. Satyanarayana said this could be done through PPP or using JNNURM funds.

Mr. Kharola said that Reach 4 connecting Sampige Road and Peenya would be open to public by November last week. Even Reach 4, he said, would be completed by March 2014. However, it will be out of commission till the Majestic Metro terminus is ready, he said.

Bangalore-Mysore Road flyover

At the inspection site at the Namma Metro Mysore Road station, the discussion revolved around the delay around the Bangalore-Mysore Road flyover. BDA executive engineer A. Ramesh told the Minister that the project, slated to be completed by November, has been put on hold due to issues with acquiring land. Nearly 43 properties spanning 3 acres 21 guntas of land need to be acquired along Mysore Road, Mr. Ramesh said.

Mr. Reddy said that the issue of speeding up these acquisitions by offering other land as compensation elsewhere in the city would be discussed at the next BDA Board meeting.