A judge loses sleep over Project Metro

The high court on Wednesday came down heavily on Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) over land acquisition at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in a petition filed by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).

While hearing BMRCL’s plea for vacating a stay order on Metro works near Chinnaswamy stadium, Justice Ram Mohan Reddy pulled up the BMRCL officials for bad design of the Metro rail project.

Justice Reddy said “I haven’t slept since the Metro works commenced on Vani Vilas Road near Basavanagudi where my house is situated. Even my neighbours are facing the same problem.”

Justice Reddy said: “You (Metro officials and workers) can knock on my house door at any time at night; I will open the door, because I haven’t slept at night after the commencement of metro works at Vanivilas Road. The Metro people are doing construction works at night for the last three years,” he said.

“Who is the engineer who designed the Metro project in Bangalore? I want to see his marks card. Technology is very advanced in European countries to carry out such kind of project.

But we have adopted an old technology and plans prepared by old engineers. Why can’t you hire new engineers for the project?” Justice Reddy questioned while turning down the BMRCL’s plea.

The court also extended the stay on Metro works near Chinnaswamy Stadium until further court orders.

On February 6, 2010, a single bench had stayed the metro works near Chinnaswamy Stadium after hearing the petition filed by KSCA.

KSCA had challenged the acquisition of 3,000 sq metres of land by BMRCL for the metro rail project.