Deccan Chronicle 11.08.2009

Metro ‘lands’ properties

Bengaluru, Aug. 10: After the initial hurdles, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has almost completed the land acquisition process for the Metro Rail.

BMRCL had identified 931 private properties out of which it has acquired 710 so far and demolished 548 structures. Apart from technical challenges, acquiring private properties, shifting utilities and carrying out underground work are the major challenges that BMRCL faces, said BMRCL spokesperson B.L. Yeshwanth Chavan.

The company has also come out with a model of the Jayanagar railway station. With the company committed to meeting its deadline of October 2010 on Reach-1, there has steady progress in the work.

Work on the viaduct in Reach–1 is underway on MG Road and the foundation work is nearing completion on CMH Road. The Adarsha Junction-Trinity Circle has also been taken up in a big way. The Byappanahalli depot and workshop work, which have been entrusted to Ms URC Limited, are progressing at full swing. But residents of CMH Road and Indiranagar are apprehensive about safety at the work sites after a few accidents occurred at the Metro sites.

BMRCL authorities were engaging unskilled workers at work sites which requires some minimum skills. Unskilled workers from the North-East are being roped in to cut costs, alleged advocate Pramila Nesargi. But company authorities maintain that all necessary safety measures are in place. All workers are insured and in case of accidents, contractors will bear the medical expense and the victims will also be given adequate compensation, they said.

Tor Steel, which is overseeing quality assurance, said lack of common sense in executing civil works was responsible for the accident on CMH Road.

The Hindu 03.08.2009

Rs. 15-crore draft plan for development of Madikeri

Staff Correspondent

Madikeri: A draft action plan of Rs. 15 crore has been prepared by the Madikeri City Municipal Council (CMC) authorities for the comprehensive development of the city.

Funds will be allocated under the Chief Minister’s Small and Medium Towns Development Project (CMSMTDP).

An ambitious programme to develop 20 headquarters of urban local bodies (ULBs) in two years and 199 taluk headquartered and other town panchayats in one year at a cost of Rs. 1,411 crore was prepared by the State Government under CMSMTDP recently, according to information received here.

Of the Rs. 15 crore, Rs. 8 crore will be utilised for construction of drains in the city. This is expected to avoid water stagnation during monsoon, which is one of the reasons for damage of roads. Two of the four slums in the city will be developed at a cost of Rs. 3 crore. The four slums are Indiranagar, Chamundeshwarinagar, parts of Mangaladevinagar and Tyagaraja Colony.

A sum of Rs. 1 crore each will be used for construction of retaining walls on Gowli Street and in front of the KSRTC bus-stand, building concrete road from Ram Mandir to Convent School junction and for developing the private bus stand area, now proposed to he shifted to the land under the University of Agricultural Sciences. A sum of Rs. 50 lakh will be spent on installing a 12-metre high 10 high mast lamps in parts of the city. An identical amount will be utilised by the CMC for the Kundamestri drinking water project. The draft plan is being prepared under the supervision of CMC president P.D. Ponnappa and Commissioner of the CMC Srikanth Rao.

Projects that will be taken up on priority under CMSMTDP are drinking water supply, sewerage lines, drains, solid waste management, roads, footpaths, upgrading slums and street lights. At least 20 per cent of the sum should be spent on the welfare of the poor. Funds for roads and footpaths should not exceed 50 per cent of the allotted grants. The draft development plan will be submitted to the district in-charge Minister for approval.