Namma Metro Update - Spat over railway land continues

Official says BMRCL is trying to portray SWR as a ‘bad boy'

BEATING A RETREAT: Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. personnel clearing material and machinery from the worksite at the northern ramp of the North-South corridor on Railway Platform Road, between Krishna Flour Mills and Sampige Road Metro Station, after South Western Railway declared the work was illegal. Photo: K. Gopinath

Even as Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) voices its outrage over South Western Railway (SWR) claiming Rs. 219 crore towards the use of its land for Namma Metro underground work, the SWR insists the claim is as per Railway Board guidelines.

A senior SWR official told The Hindu : “If the Railway Board directs us to allow the BMRCL to go ahead without payment of fee, we are ready. We have not got any such directive and [this] indicates our claim is right.”

Tuesday's eviction

These claims and counterclaims culminated in high drama off Platform Road (in front of Hotel Swathi) on Tuesday when the Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel evicted BMRCL's men and machinery from railway land.

The BMRCL was working on constructing the north ramp for the North-South underground corridor.

Both sides are sparring over the underground metro network around the City Railway Station.

The BMRCL has already deposited Rs. 94 crore with the Railways but the latter has sought the remaining Rs. 125.7 crore.

Cost escalation

The BMRCL says even the Rs. 94 crore already paid is exorbitant as the tunnel and cut-and-cover portions of the underground network does not amount to leasing of the land, but only a “way leave” facility, and it should have had to pay only Rs. 44 crore. Moreover, the Railways' claims would escalate project costs.

Its spokesperson argued that the land belonged to the State government before it was given to the Railways. Being a government organisation, the Railways should not be adamant when it comes to a joint venture of the State and Union governments. When the Empowered Committee is seized of the matter, the Railways should have allowed the BMRCL to continue with the work, which will otherwise delay the project considerably, he said.

Confrontationist attitude

Disagreeing, SWR's Bangalore Divisional Railway Manager Sudhanshu Mani told The Hindu BMRCL was attempting to paint the Railway Division as a “bad boy” stalling the project. Railways allowed work on Mahatma Gandhi Colony without demurring, he said.

“It is true that the land belonged to the State government. Once it is our property, there are certain provisions to lease it as per the board's guidelines. We worked out different formulas and the fee payable is not less than Rs. 180 crore,” he said.

He accused the BMRCL of always adopting a confrontationist attitude instead of across-the-table discussions. “Let the BMRCL deposit the amount, either fully or partially, and go ahead with the work.

“If the Empowered Committee says our calculations are wrong, we'll refund the excess amount,” he said.

Asked why the Railways cannot adopt a vice versa formula, Mr. Mani said the claim was correct and if it were not so, the board would have already intervened.

Enabling encroachment

Mr. Mani said it is not just payment of lease fee; BMRCL has allowed Hamara Shelters, an arm of the Mantris, to encroach Railways land for the construction of Sampige Road Metro Station. Though the court had ordered status quo, the contractor continues to store material on Railways land, he said.