Date:08/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/08/stories/2008100853450400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Cabinet approves sale of land for BMIC project

Special Correspondent

NICE sought land for constructing link roads

Bangalore: The State Cabinet on Tuesday approved the sale of 102 acres of land for the controversial Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, being executed by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises, for constructing links roads to connect the Bangalore-Mysore highway at three junctions. The Cabinet cancelled the invitation extended by the H.D. Kumaraswamy Government to a global consortium to complete the expressway project.

Inquiry wound up

The Cabinet also decided to wind up the B.C. Patel Commission of Inquiry (set up to look into the project) since Mr. Patel had expressed his difficulty in conducting the inquiry.

Briefing presspersons on the decisions taken in the Cabinet meeting, Home Minister V.S. Acharya and Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Kumar said that officials of NICE had sought land for constructing link roads to the expressway and the Cabinet, on the advice of the Advocate-General, resolved to grant it. The company would purchase land at prices prevailing in the market, they said.

Issues pending

Various issues with regard to execution of the BMIC project are pending before the Supreme Court.

Further, appointment of the B.C. Patel Commission of Inquiry has also been challenged.

The Cabinet also decided to grant land to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) for constructing stations at the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain park on Raj Bhavan Road and Lalbagh.

Nearly 1,223 sq.m of land would be granted to the company at the park and 1,135 sq.m in Lalbagh, they said.

It was also decided to extend the Metro Rail to the north by 5.6 km till Hesaraghatta Road and to the south by 3.6 km till Jaraganahalli in the first phase of the project.

BMRCL will have to incur an additional expenditure of Rs. 1,592 crore in view of the extension.

The Government decided to amend the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act to facilitate construction of these stations as under the existing law such activities are banned, the Ministers said.

The State Cabinet also decided to conduct a survey for extending the Metro Rail up to Electronics City and Whitefield.