Bangalore, May 03: The Bangalore Metro rail project, after seven years of conception, today showed clear signs of taking off with the Centre and Karnataka government stating that a Memorandum of Understanding would be signed soon. Union Urban Development Minister Ananth Kumar and Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna today announced here that the Centre and the state are keen to sign an MoU to take up the project.
Ananth Kumar said he, along with Krishna, would apprise Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and Defence Minister George Fernandes, all of whom would be here tomorrow, about the project.
A draft MoU is ready with the Centre, Kumar said. Now, cabinet, both at the Central and state levels, need to give the nod for the project, he said.
Krishna said state cabinet at its meeting on May 8 would address the issue.
Managing director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation E Sreedharan, who was entrusted with the task of preparing a detailed project report, made a presentation to the state government today.
As per the presentation, the proposal is to take up work on east-west and north-west corridors -- passing through the central business district area -- covering 33 km with 32 stations at a total cost of Rs 3,970 crore, which is projected to go up to Rs 4,989 crore with escalation and interest costs on completion. Bureau Report