Whitefield seeks nodal officer to ensure Metro work doesn't hit life

Commerce and industry establishments in Whitefield on Wednesday decided to approach the government, seeking appointment of a nodal officer to ensure that work on the Metro line to Baiyappanahalli does not affect traffic and alternative arrangements like suburban train are made.

“The ITPL main road is already choked, with travel time between Whitefield and KR Puram going up by two hours. We want the government to appoint an officer of IAS cadre to make sure Metro work does not further deteriorate the situation,” said M R Kori, vice president of Whitefield Area Commerce and Industries Association (WACIA).

Grievances aired
As the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) managing director Pradeep Singh Kharola could not make it to the interaction programme, members of WACIA and civic activists from Whitefield Rising aired their grievances to the media.

In phase 2, BMRCL is extending the line from Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield. Kharola has said the 15.5-km line, which mostly runs on the ITPL main road, would be completed by 2020.

Whitefield Vision Group president Panduranga Rao said suburban trains from the city to Whitefield are essential since the BMRCL will occupy part of the only main road.

“The government should get the Railways to take up the doubling of the Hosur line between Cantonment and Whitefield,” he said.

Industrialist Sandeep Mittal, WACIA member, said the road in front of his property had been dug up and utility pipes and wires had been cut off.

“Near Graphite India, they dug up the road to make it wider. All the utility wires and pipes were disconnected. I had to pressure the contractor to fix it. Even then, it took three days,” he said.

Mittal said the BMRCL had failed to keep its promise on widening the road. “They said they will build a new lane, but they are only extending the road by two metres, which does not even make half the lane,” he added.