Sadananda backtracking on Metro promise

Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda promised that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would inaugurate Metro on september 15. even after trial run yesterday, he is unsure if opening will be possible by September 25

Sadananda backtracking on Metro promise

Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda promised that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would inaugurate Metro on September 15. even after trial run yesterday, he is unsure if opening will be possible by September 25

Loosing steam? The CM mentioned that more would be known on
September 4, which is when the Railway Board would issue clearance

That promise fell flat yesterday when the CM boarded the Metro rail for an 'inspection ride'. After the ride, he said that he is unsure about the Metro being thrown open to public by the deadline he mentioned and that more would be known on September 4, which is when the Railway Board would issue clearance.

Off-track? Chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda (right) and Home
Minister R Ashok arrive at M G Road station with an army of BJP
supporters in tow. The duo were offered an introductory trip on the
Metro from M G Road station to Byappanahalli station

Unruly mob?
Over 70 BJP supporters hitched a ride to be with the CM and he continued to please the gathering and even raised his hand, as if to bless them.That was not all -- Sadananda's supporters shouted slogans and behaved in an unruly fashion all the while, and only calmed down when Transport Minister R Ashok silently lifted his hand, as if to warn them of unknown consequences.

In the melee, the BMRCL officials and staff remained mute spectators. The body had maintained a strict demeanor about security, almost banning any member of the general public from entering the stations.

Outnumbered
When questioned, a BMRCL official said, "We were helpless since they are party supporters and so we cannot stop them. We stopped a few at Indira Nagar station, but by the time the train reached Byappanahalli, there were around 65 supporters forcing their way in."

Apart from R Ashok, State Urban Development Minister Suresh Kumar and Mayor Sharadamma enjoyed the joy ride. The officials and their league of supporters arrived in a BMTC Volvo bus at MG Road Metro Station and climbed onto aboard, as if heading for a group picnic. Defending Sadananda, BJP state spokesperson Dhananjaya Kumar, who was also aboard, said, "The CM has come here, so it is natural that his beloved supporters would also join him. Whatever happened was not intentional."

Total chaos reigned while the drama lasted, but Sadananda remained mum throughout. However, when questioned by the media, he mumbled about not being able to keep his promise. "I do not think the Reach I of the Metro will be inaugurated on September 15 and right now, we are not in a position to give the exact date. Only after we get the Railway Board's clearance on September 4, will we be able to say anything," said the CM.
On breaking his only promise made to the common man so soon into his regime, he asserted that the launch date might get rescheduled to September 25.

The clearance from the Commissioner of Railway Safety would be the last mile for Bangalore Metro to makes its final run. The CRS told MiD DAY that they had received an application from BMRCL yesterday and will be reviewing it. "After reviewing the documents, I will visit Bangalore along with three other officials sometime next week," said D K Singh, CRS Southern circle.

PMO clueless
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may have been named for inaugurating the Reach I, but when MiD DAY spoke to officials in the PM's office, they were absolutely clueless. "We have no details of his visit to Bangalore and we are yet to be informed," said K Muthukumar, special duty officer, PMO. He informed that the PM will be on trip to Bangladesh on September 6 and 7 and after that, his schedules for the rest of the month would be worked out.

Confirming this, BJP spokesperson Dhananjaya Kumar said, "The PM's office will give us a date only after we have all the sanctions from the Railway Board. After that, we can throw the Metro open for operations."
BMRCL Chief N Shivasailam further affirmed this by saying, "This is true. We still have not received any intimation from the PMO."

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