Karnataka - Bangalore

Look at long-term benefits

For a city with 25 lakh vehicles, mega projects are inevitable, say our readers.

Needless row

Some politicians just cannot tolerate plans and projects that originate during the rule of a rival political combination. Others just cry "environment", forgetting public infrastructure that works is an integral part of the environment. Needless controversy has been created about Metro Rail versus Monorail. As far as most citizens are concerned, both are welcome.

D.S. Manjunath,

R.T. Nagar

Burden of vehicles

This city is groaning under the burden of around 25 lakh vehicles, most of them privately owned. The roads just cannot take any more traffic, as most of us who drive to work and back realise every day. There are ways to find private partners and funding for major infrastructure projects. Even if public money is used, they are the ones who eventually benefit.

V. Raman,

Malleswaram

Plan for future

Now that the Supreme Court has cleared the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor and the Centre the Metro Rail, politicians should refrain from raking up more controversy. The long-term benefits of major infrastructure projects are overlooked by some people. The infrastructure corridor, for example, will help create satellite townships and reduce the load on Bangalore's civic amenities.

Mamta K.,

Krishnarajapuram

Myopic attitude

One can understand someone displaced by the Metro Rail Project protesting against it. But not politicians or self-styled citizens' groups, who like to oppose every proposal. There is no use of complaining about bad roads and chaotic traffic and at the same time opposing projects that can solve both the problems. A short-sighted attitude is to be blamed for many controversies.

S. Pishe,

Indiranagar

A step backward

Some people and organisations would have us go back in time and travel on bullock carts from Bangalore to Mysore. The same people would have tens of thousands of us getting nervous breakdown by driving on congested roads. Such people should go and see how things happen in other cities. Chennai has suburban rail systems. It has an elevated railway and is clamouring for an underground railway now.

Latha Venkatesh,

Jayanagar

Investors' ire

Investors are threatening to relocate their units in cities other than Bangalore while we keep bickering over which type of public transport is better. Just try driving from Mahatma Gandhi Road to Koramangala and you will realise why a Metro Rail is urgently needed. At the same time, the Government should explain to the public all sides of any major project, including the environmental impact.

R. Krishnaswamy,

Basavanagudi

NEXT WEEK: The concept of job reservations in the private sector has its advocates and opponents. While sections, which have been deprived of opportunities for generations should benefit now, should it be at the cost of genuine merit? Can reservations co-exist with a liberalised economy? Readers can send their views to Point-Blank, The Hindu, No. 19 and 21, Bhagwan Mahaveer Road, Bangalore 560001 or email bglreflections@thehindu.co.in

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