Cantt Metro: 2 MPs join citizens' protest

Bengaluru: BJP MPs are backing civilians, who are opposed to the change in the Cantonment Metro Rail alignment and lack of integration with Cantonment Railway station. So far, MPs P.C. Mohan and Rajeev Chandrasekhar are on board, with the latter having addressed a letter to Union Urban Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. 

“The decision to move the Cantonment Metro station away is inexplicable. There is no logic behind it. It is plain stupid. Why at all should it be 800 metres way or 400 metres away when it can be at the same place? I have written to the Union government and will also send a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah," Chandrasekhar told Deccan Chronicle.

An excerpt of his letter dated August 21 reads, “Request intervention to ensure integration of Bengaluru Metro at Cantonment Station, as per DPR 2014. BMRCL has increased the distance between Metro and railway station from 80 metres to 800 metres."

It further adds, “Till date, BMRCL has been unable to justify this shift. BBMP is not permitted to give away playground land under the Karnataka Park Preservation Act, 1985. South Western Railway has also expressed its willingness to make the land available.” Attached with this are 150 signatures of concerned citizens, who met the MP to discuss the issue. 

“We met Mr Mohan and discussed all the concerns. In public interest, it is important note that the new alignment is not 250 metres away from the railway station. That is misleading. Mr Mohan is fully convinced of the need for integration and will take it forward," said Mr Rajkumar, one of the Vasanthnagar residents campaigning against the issue.