Only 9 acres for Bengaluru’s Hebbal transit hub is a great betrayal: BJP | Bengaluru News
Bengaluru: Opposition BJP slammed the govt’s decision to allot only nine acres of land in Hebbal for the Metro rail project instead of 45 acres required for constructing a multi-modal transit hub.Calling it a “great betrayal”, the party demanded that the govt change its decision and not buckle under pressure from the real-estate lobby. Bangalore North MP and Union minister of state for MSME and labour Shobha Karandlaje, in a letter addressed to chief minister Siddaramaiah, urged the govt to reconsider its decision. “The project falls within Bangalore North Lok Sabha constituency and is critical for tackling the city’s congestion. The land BMRCL has requested is one of the largest parcels available at such a prime location. If it is diverted for any other purpose, there cannot be a bigger injustice and crime besides choking the entry point of the city. Further, the failure to hand over the land will also negate industrial growth in north Bengaluru, seen as an industrial corridor,” the letter said.Over a year ago, BMRCL approached the govt seeking transfer of 45 acres from Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) to build a transit hub, depot, multi-level car parking and other facilities. BMRCL also agreed to bear the compensation cost of over Rs 500 crore for acquiring the land in prime Hebbal area. Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar and industries minister MB Patil discussed the issue and promised to prioritise the transit project.However, BMRCL made a U-turn by drastically reducing the land requirement from 45 to 9 acres. This was communicated during a high-level committee meeting chaired by chief secretary Shalini Rajneesh Monday. The committee has now directed BMRCL to approach KIADB to seek transfer of the reduced land parcel.Bangalore Central MP PC Mohan said, “The 45 acres of land in Hebbal is critical for multiple Metro lines (Phases 2A, 2B, 3 and 3A) and the suburban rail project. Any dilution of land to suit private builders will cripple Bengaluru’s future mobility. Don’t surrender to real-estate lobbies.”
