Finish Metro Phase I by February: KJ George

BENGALURU: Reinstated Bengaluru development minister K.J. George instructed the BMRCL officials to complete all the Phase 1 works of Namma Metro by February next year and directed that the rail network should be commercially operational by April.

Participating in a review meeting with BBMP, BDA and BMRCL officials on Tuesday, the minister was informed that the Phase 1 was scheduled to be completed by March. Reviewing the works, he stressed that the works should be completed by February. Later, he also discussed about the progress of Phase 2 works and directed the officials to complete them as per the schedule.

111 works to be taken up
Meanwhile, the minister also held a review meeting mayor G Padmavati, deputy mayor Ananda, BBMP commissioner Manjunath Prasad and other BBMP officials. Prasad informed that 111 packages of various works would be taken up and Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the same would be ready by November. “We will take up all the works by January,” he said.

He further suggested the BBMP to take up 25 new roads under TenderSURE model and instructed that white topping must be done on roads on priority basis. The BBMP officials told George that out of the six proposed grade separators, DPR was ready for three. The minister reviewed the progress of four signal-free corridors which are under construction.

Regarding the condition of the storm water drain network, Prasad, said, “Rebuilding and revamp of storm water drains is being taken up at the cost of Rs 800 crore.  A stretch of 65 km is expected to be completed during 2016-17 and another 55 km stretch will be taken up next year.”     Further, he reviewed the progress of works taken up in 2014-15 and 2015-16 and the status of projects approved by the cabinet for the year 2016-17.