Now, Deve Gowda wants Metro Phase 2 to go underground

Seeks relook into entire realignment process at the Jayadeva Hospital intersection

The beleaguered property owners whose buildings are likely to be acquired for the Namma Metro Phase 2 in Jayanagar area have received support from the former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda, who has sought a relook into the entire realignment process at the Jayadeva Hospital intersection.

The realignment of the intersection of the R.V. Road-Bommasandra and Gottigere-Nagawara line by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) has caused much anxiety and heartburn among the property owners, whose properties have been earmarked for acquisition to safeguard a portion of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, which was earmarked for acquisition earlier.

Incidentally, it was at the behest of the Jayadeva Institute Director C.N. Manjunath, who is also the son-in-law of Mr. Gowda, that the realignment was made as Dr. Manjunath had expressed fears of the metro operations affecting the hospital’s functioning.

In a letter, dated August 9, 2013, a copy of which is with

The Hindu , to Chief Secretary S.V. Ranganath, the former Prime Minister has sought the realignment process to be relooked into and has sought expert opinion to be taken to explore the least inconvenient method.

Comparing Namma Metro with the metros in London, Moscow, New York and Kolkata, he has said that Bangalore’s aesthetic appeal has been lost due to metro running over ground. When people world over are fighting to save the heritage structures of their place, Kannadigas are destroying the same heritage with impunity, he added.

Underground

Urging to explore the possibility of making the entire Phase 2 underground, Mr. Gowda as suggested considering the possibility of going underground in such stretches as Bannerghatta Road/ Jayadeva Hospital junction to the extent of 2 km by continuing the Nagawara-Dairy Circle underground stretch to save damage to private properties and Jayadeva Hospital.

“The way the BMRCL officials went about realignment process has created a panic among the common man as it brushed aside the proposal of going underground with one statement — cost is prohibitive.”

Proposing alternative realignment on the Eastern side of Bannerghatta Road to reduce acquisition cost, he said: “Extending the station towards service road for realignment can be considered which will save the hospital from major damage and acquisition cost will be only for intersection stations and not for neighbouring properties.”

The underground tunnel boring technology is now widely used that has reduced the cost substantially, Mr. Gowda said, adding that the corporation should make efforts to think of alternative to avoid public agony and economic loss of the land losers. Confirming they had received the letter, BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola said they were examining the contents.