Bangalore: Monorail to be introduced in Mangalore?
 
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
 
Bangalore, Sep 17: The traffic woes of coastal city of Mangalore along with the menace of private city bus service could be a thing of the past if the proposal for introduction of monorail system is implemented.

Several firms, especially from Malaysia, which have the expertise of implementing and operating the monorail system have come forward to develop monorail system in the port city of Mangalore.

Apart from Mangalore, proposals have come for taking up monorail system projects in Bangalore and Hubli-Dharward too.

Information and Infrastructure Development Minister Santosh Lad, who spoke to reporters in Bangalore on Tuesday, said several firms have already held first round of talks with the government on introducing monorail system in Bangalore, Mangalore and Hubli-Dharwad.

The estimated cost for elevated monorail system ranges from Rs 100 crore to Rs 120 crore, the minister said.

With Bangalore expected to complete the first phase of the Metro Rail Project by next year and take up the second phase work, the implementation of the monorail system would act as feeder service for the metro rail project, the minister said explaining that the elevated monorail project can be conveniently implemented even in congested parts of the city without major land acquisition hassles as the land requirement will not be much.

However, Lad said details regarding outlays for projects, invitation of expression of interest and land acquisition issues would be known only in the next couple of weeks.

Firms have proposed to develop 20-25 km monorail in Hubli-Dharwad and Mangalore and 30-35 km in Bangalore in the first phases, he said pointing out that the actual length of monorail would be known later.

"We have asked the foreign firms to visit to Belgaum and other city corporations also to explore opportunities for construction of monorail in second tier cities," Lad said.

The government would provide all kinds of support to the companies, who have evinced keen interest to invest in the infrastructure in the State on PPP Model.

However, due to economic slowdown and various other reasons the projects were not being realised, he said.

Traffic in Bangalore could be tackled by having monorail system that could be used as feeder service to metro rail.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has taken note of the necessity of developing the monorail in the city, Lad said.

Asked about delay in completion of railway projects in the State, he said out of 14 projects only two had been completed so far.

Land acquisition and escalation of cost are the major reasons for the delay.

The minister said he has written to Union Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge seeking his intervention to expedite work on railway projects in the State.

However, development of infrastructure in city corporation limits would be possible only by levying of cess on citizens in city corporation limits, the minister said pointing out that the people must be prepared to shoulder part of the burden.