Five years after the construction of the Metro rail system began in the city, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited is not only lagging behind the schedule on most stretches, it continues to be plagued by complaints over compensation and rehabilitation of those who lost their properties in its wake. It’s time the BMRCL took a more humane approach to the issue as it prepares to expand the network, say Chandrashekar G and Akanksha Mehrotra

The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has not only overshot its schedule for completing Reach 3 of the Metro Rail, but is also dogged by controversies over compensation and rehabilitation of those who have lost their properties.

While the state government had promised to launch Reach-3 connecting densely populated parts of the city to industrial areas on its outskirts by December 2012, the project has been delayed by at least six months owing to land acquisition hurdles. Metro work was halted at the Swastik with the railways refusing to part with its land for it, claiming it had been illegally acquired by the PPP partners of BMRCL for the station it was building there. BMRCL and the private company concerned then moved the court, but the issue seems to have been resolved now. The Metro and the railways then sparred over the issue of compensation for land acquired by it in the Majestic. The final decision on land pricing was taken with the help of the Union government and the issue sorted out.

There was more litigation, however, as one G M Babu filed a writ appeal before the High Court of Karnataka, challenging the acquisition of land for the Soap Factory Metro Station. But his plea was dismissed on April 18 this year with an order to maintain the status quo for a period of three weeks at his request to give him time to file a petition before the Supreme Court. The BMRCL's troubles have not ended , however. Complaints have come in from people on Magadi road that they have been denied the rehabilitation package promised after Namma Metro acquired their properties. Some people here claim they have become victims of fraud and cheating while the Metro lines and stations are built in the area. Being poor, they say they have no way of being heard.

The BMRCL, for its part, says it has done nothing wrong as the people, whose properties it demolished had no legal claim to them. As it ducks the charges and tries to overcome the many hurdles, Bengaluru remains dug up and waiting for yet another stretch of the Metro Rail to take off.

4 years on, bmrcl going slow

“The BMRCL acquired our property in 2007 and demolished it in 2008 for the Metro project. It is responsible for the death of our mother, who died of a heart attack as it bulldozed our house while we were still inside,” charge Shankari and Kumuda, who are claiming the compensation from the BMRCL now that their mother, Narasamma is no more.

They maintain that she was allotted a site at Basavesh­waranagar by the BBMP in early 1990s and lived in the house she built on it for 15 years. “We are working as coolies to make ends meet and live in a rented house. After approaching the BMRCL several times it promised to give us a house, but after making us run from pillar to post it declined our request on Thursday,” the duo complain.

A contract sweeper with the BBMP, Anjali Sundar Raj, who lived in Basaveshwaranagar for about 15 years, says when her house was acquired by the BMRCL for the project she was promised another house at Srigandhadakavalu near Kottigepalya. “But while 64 people were allotted houses I was not. Instead I was asked to produce several documents including a letter from the MLA and other supporting documents. My husband’s name is mentioned in the list of people awaiting rehabilitation , but we have received nothing," she laments, alleging that their failure to bribe the local tahasildar is holding up the compensation due to them.

Another woman, Vijaylakshmi , claims her tenant fabricated documents to register the khata of the house in his name and claim the the compensation from the BMRCL, which was disregarding her genuine documents.

Fighting for the rights of these people are two members of the Human Rights and Corruption Eradication Union, R. Ramesh and M. Shivakumar.

Mr Ramesh alleges the BMRCL got them arrested after they threatened to launch an indefinite protest.“ We plan to lodge a complaint with the Lokayukta police and also approach Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and deputy chief minister R. Ashok for justice,” he adds.

‘Once acquired Give proper compensation’

Those whose land is acquiured must get adequate compensation. As far as my knowledge goes, the BMRCL has not faced any problems in acquiring around 80 per cent of the properties listed for acquisition. There have been a few problems and these specific cases should be addressed with understanding between the parties involved.

I feel the properties to be acquired should be marked while designing a project. People should be convinced that the acquisition of their properties will bring better infrastructure to the city and compensated at par with the market value of their property.

If an infrastructure project is delayed, the cost of a project will automatically escalate. This can be easily avoided by planning wisely. The money used in projects belongs to the public and so should be utilised better. Phase-1 has been a learning experience for the BMRCL and it will learn from its mistakes . It has assured not to repeat them when executing Phase-2. Since the Metro project is very new to Bengaluru, there are bound to be hurdles in executing it.