Deccan Chronicle: Bengaluru: Monday, January 22, 2018.
RTI responses
reveal correspondence between the South Western Railway, Bengaluru division,
and BMRCL on Cantonment Metro station alignment. Filed by activist and
transport expert Sanjeev Dyamnavar, the documents reveal three issues.
Suspicious
change in alignment
On May 11,
former BMRCL MD Pradeep Singh Kharola wrote a letter to Divisional Railway
Manager R.S. Saxena asking for land.
Mr Kharola
wrote, "BMRCL is requiring land for construction of UG Cantonment station.
Permanent land needed - 2472.448 square metres (0.61 acres) and temporary land
for four years - 16234.407 square meters (4.01 acres). Apart from alignment,
the structures like station entry/exit structures require large extent of
land."
Pointing out
the discrepancy, Dyamnavar said, "The two departments had a discussion on
August 22, 2017. On August 24, BMRCL writes back saying that they have found
alternative land at Bamboo Bazaar. This seems fishy as they changed the
alignment without consultation of state government, elected representatives
like MP P.C. Mohan and citizens."
He also
pointed out that though BMRCL cited many technical excuses
of depth,
curvature and length, the RTI mentions none of those reasons for the change of
alignment.
Re-survey
eyewash?
A September
20, 2017 letter by DRM to BMRCL reads, "Consequent upon approval of
alternate location by High Power Committee, Board of Directors of BMRCL and as
discussed during Joint Site inspection by DRM and MD in the presence of M.K.
Sinha, MoUD on 13th September, the decision taken is confirmed. "
Rajkumar
Dugar said, "In the correspondence, we can gather that Bamboo Bazaar
alignment was predetermined. The re-survey of the old alignment held on
November 11 was eyewash, as the change was secretly confirmed on September 20
itself between the two departments. They have been taking citizens on a ride
and never seriously considered the original alignment."
Loss of open
spaces for children.
"The
playground is about four acres. Going by their requirements, they will need 50
% of the playground land temporarily and 70% will be unusable by children for
4-5 years during construction," Dyamnavar said.