There is no dearth of legal battles that Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has to fight, all of which has slowed down work on Phase-I of the metro network. But the toughest could be this could stop Metro works in Minsk Square. The latest dispute is over a portion of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) property near Minsk Square that BMRCL wants, but which the Wakf Board, which now owns the property, has refused to surrender. It has filed a case against BMRCL.
The litigation has held up work at this location for more than eight months and could affect the overall completion schedule of the underground station. The Wakf Board had earlier filed a case against BSNL for possession of the property and had won the case. Namma Metro wants to acquire a portion of the property to get going with the Cricket Stadium underground station at Minsk Square.
A member of the Wakf Board told Deccan Chronicle that the property cannot be leased or transferred to any other organisation without taking consent of the board. The underground station at Minsk Square will connect to the M.G. Road station on Reach-1 and will serve employees of several government and private offices located nearby.