Day after CM's 'impractical' announcement regarding inauguration of Metro, officials offer ride to scribes to assure masses of completion of the project
Day after CM's 'impractical' announcement regarding inauguration of Metro, officials offer ride to scribes to assure masses of completion of the project
If Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda's announcement that 'the Metro would be inaugurated by the Prime Minister on September 15' was impractical, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials' effort to convince scribes about the readiness of the project by offering them an impromptu ride could be construed as an effort to take people for a ride, literally. 
The move comes a day after the Chief Minister's announcement. Apparently, the BMRCL officials are working on damage control strategies now. But, the bone of contention here is the clearance that the BMRCL is still awaiting from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS).
"We can start the operations anytime, but we have to first get the approval from the Railway Board and after that the Commissioner of Railway Safety will give his permission to start the commercial operations. The purpose of the Metro ride was to assure the general public that the Bangalore Metro has completed all work and is ready to start the operations," said B L Y Chavan, spokesperson, BMRCL.
Pressure tactic
According to experts, the move is a pressure tactic meant to speed-up the certification process at the expense of public safety. "There is still a lot of work pending and by announcing a date and claiming that the Prime Minister would be inaugurating it, now there will be more pressure on the railways," said M N Sreehari, Advisor to the Government for Traffic, Transport and Infrastructure. He added that because of this pressure tactic, the CRS might overlook many aspects and even give the certification. "But this would mean that the public safety might be compromised," he said.
Hollow claim?
Metro officials might be claiming that they can start services as soon as they get clearance from the Commissioner of Railway Safety, but the truth is that the project is still incomplete. Take the case of MG Road Metro concourse station, which is still under construction. As per the BMRCL spokesperson, this part of the station would be completed only in December. Once completed, it will provide an easy entry and exit into the Metro station from Church Street.
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