Bengaluru: The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL), which had been told by the Army not to carry out any work at Vellara Junction, has resumed work at the spot from Tuesday, BMRCL sources told Deccan Chronicle.
The row between the defence ministry and the Church of South India (CSI), Karnataka Central Diocese, over a parcel of land attached to All Saints Church, which was acquired for Namma Metro work, has taken a new turn with the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) asking the State Bank of India to freeze CSI’s account at the Sudhamanagar branch for claiming compensation for the land from BMRCL.
The BMRCL official said, “The work had stopped because the Army is objecting to CSI claiming compensation. With the defence ministry claiming ownership of the land, those who produce original land documents will be eligible for the compensation.”
The work began only recently and BMRCL has demolished Fathima Bakery, Hotel Tom’s Restaurant, a BPCL petrol pump and another building. But the work stopped after the Army interfered.
“We hope that the issue will be resolved soon. Anyway, we have received the orders to resume work and we are going ahead because we have seen many such cases of multiple people and organisations claiming ownership of land,” the BMRCL official said.
The sources confirmed that the compensation was paid to CSI in four tranches. While All Saints Church is part of CSI, the defence ministry claims that the All Saints Church land belongs to it and has documents to prove it.
Around 1,000 members of All Saints Church and environment activists are opposed to destruction of the church and its sylvan surroundings. Also, many complain that as per the original Detailed Project Report (DPR), the Metro line was to run below Hosur Road, but was shifted within the Church compound. This is in violation of norms, they alleged.
