Letter to Editor (TOI) 12.06.05: Gowda - the whistle blower!

Dear Sir, it is probably for the first time that Mr. Deve Gowda has said something noteworthy. His objections regarding the Bangalore Metro Rail are timely and merit serious consideration. Let's be honest and face the facts - can the present government which cannot even complete 2 regular flyovers, be entrusted with a critical infrastructure project such as the BMRT which involves co-ordination of several civic agencies, acquisition of land across the city, huge funds mobilisation and other equally onerous tasks ? Of course, expecting this administration to come up with an integrated transport system for the city which makes the optimal use of buses and the MRTS is a distant dream. Given the complete lack of a spirit of nation building amongst our current crop of politicians, it is not difficult to imagine what will be the fate of Bangalore if a few years after the project starts the ruling party in the state changes and the project grinds to a halt. Can one imagine the nightmare of the Airport Rd. flyover and Jayadeva flyover replicated several times over across the city? Even the very thought is scary enough to cry a halt to the BMRTS project. We need all political parties to come together and commit themselves to the implementation of this project irrespective of which ever party is in power. Otherwise, the consequences of a failed MRTS will be catastrophic for Bangalore! Let all stakeholders think this through and then implement - we have waited all these years, a few more months will not make much of a difference.