SOURCE :- SIASAT NEWS
Bengaluru: The proposed extension of Namma Metro from Bommasandra to Attibele has triggered opposition from Kannada activists, with Vatal Nagaraj and Karnataka Rakshana Vedike leader Praveen Shetty demanding that the state government withdraw the plan.
The government has reportedly instructed Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to prepare a Detailed Project Report for the proposed 10.5-km extension towards the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border. The project is expected to have nine stations.
Reacting to the move, the activists warned that they would organise a major protest if the government proceeded with the proposal. They argued that extending the metro network towards Tamil Nadu could affect Bengaluru’s demographic balance and employment opportunities.
Praveen Shetty referred to the continuing disputes between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over Cauvery water sharing and the Mekedatu project. He questioned why Karnataka should pursue metro connectivity towards the neighbouring state when, according to him, Tamil Nadu had not cooperated with Karnataka on these issues.
He also raised concerns that stations along the proposed route might eventually be named after former Tamil Nadu leaders J Jayalalithaa, M Karunanidhi and MG Ramachandran.
Vatal Nagaraj termed the proposed metro link unacceptable and cautioned that approving the project could lead to serious consequences for Karnataka. He said the opposition was not intended to promote ethnic hostility but was rooted in concerns over the implications of the extension.
The controversy comes amid Tamil Nadu’s proposal for a 23-km metro corridor connecting Hosur with Bommasandra. The project, announced as part of Tamil Nadu’s plans, envisages 12 stations.
Karnataka’s proposed corridor would extend from Bommasandra to Attibele along the right side of Hosur Road on National Highway 44. The proposed stations include locations near Narayana Health, Chinnappanahalli Circle, Hale Chandapura, Thirumagondanahalli, Balagannahalli, Attibele Industrial Area and Yadavanahalli, apart from stations at Attibele and its terminal.
The activists have urged the government to abandon the proposal and threatened an agitation if their demand is ignored. The issue has added a fresh dimension to the debate over cross-border transport connectivity.
SOURCE : SIASAT
