The state has had a plethora of ideas to deal with Bengaluru’s traffic problem, refusing to consider the most viable solution - commuter rail - until the very end! The centre’s decision to bear only 20% of the cost is the state’s latest bone of contention. Centre for SMART Cities director, R.K. Misra talks to Joyeeta Chakravorty about how the state cannot complain about expense, seeing as it was willing to spend Rs 2000 crore on the widely-opposed steel flyover.
First proposed in 1996, a commuter rail for Bengaluru is now finally taking shape with the state government and the railways signing an MoU for it on Monday. But now the project seems to have hit another roadblock, this time over cost sharing.
While railways minister, Suresh Prabhu insists it is the duty of both the governments at the Centre and the state to fulfill the transportation needs of the people, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah objects to the Centre bearing only 20 per cent of the cost and feels there should be a 50:50 distribution of funding.
“I don't understand why the state is being so obstinate about this. It can be negotiated and economic consultants need to be appointed to figure out the best method,” says Centre for SMART Cities director, RK Misra, who believes the state needs to arrange for the funds and not be adamant about the ratio of cost sharing.
“The state should engage influential stakeholders as they have a lot of access and can help in many ways. When you look at the money it is not a huge sum. If you can spend Rs 2000 crore on a steel flyover, it stands to reason that you can spend on the suburban rail as well. But they just don't want to do it,” he regrets.
“Both the governments realise the importance of having a suburban rail in Bengaluru and their differences over cost sharing needs to be resolved with logical reasoning. Officers need to sit together and look at the possibilities and economic viability. I think the project needs to go ahead,” he adds firmly.
As for the launch of the Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) services, which brought smiles to the city's hopeful commuters, he says, “It will pacify those demanding a suburban rail service for now. But we need at least 10 to15 trains like these to meet commuter demand. There’s not point being satisfied with just one.”
Emphasising that there is a long way to go, he stresses real effort is needed from both the state and the Centre if the commuter rail is to become a reality. “The state needs to be proactive. The railways point of view is that it is one of many projects and is not high priority as far as it is concerned. Hence an innovative way is needed. Why don't we look at public-private partnership? There are so many countries that have adopted it. Look at Tokyo,” he points out.
