If it can’t be done in two years, how in two months?: Krishna Byre Gowda takes on Bengaluru metro officials again

Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda once again came down heavily on officials of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and contractors over the slow pace of work on the Blue Line (airport corridor), saying prolonged delays have been causing avoidable hardship to the public. 

Mr. Gowda on Sunday conducted an early-morning inspection of the Phase 2B stretch from Nagawara to Bagalur Cross, covering junctions including Veerannapalya, Hebbal, Esteem Mall Junction, Allalasandra, Jakkur Airdrome, Byatarayanapura and Kodigehalli. The inspection began around 7 a.m. and Bangalore North Corporation Commissioner Pommala Sunil Kumar, metro engineers, and officials from BWSSB, Bescom, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) were present.  

Noting the pace of construction, the Minister questioned officials over pillars that have remained incomplete for nearly two years at several locations. “If it takes two years to build a single pillar, how can you suddenly claim the work will be completed in two months? Can you do magic?” he said, pulling up the metro contractor and engineers on the spot.

He also criticised officials for blocking work at some locations while proceeding elsewhere, asking why the public should suffer owing to poor planning and coordination.  

He also raised concerns over footpaths and service roads being filled with construction debris, which has made movement difficult for pedestrians and motorists alike.

He directed the authorities to immediately clear encroachments and dispose of metro waste to restore public access and further instructed removal of the debris in front of him during the inspection. 

The Minister also flagged unnecessary road blockages caused by metro works, stating that these had resulted in daily traffic congestion across several parts of north Bengaluru, instructing officials to clear avoidable barricades, reopen roads wherever possible, and ensure smoother vehicular movement.  

Recent inspection

The inspection follows a review conducted by the Minister on December 3, in the Byatarayanapura Assembly constituency which he represents, where he had criticised the prolonged delay in the Blue Line project. The airport corridor, originally scheduled for completion in 2025, was later revised to 2026 and has now been pushed to 2027.

Mr. Gowda had then warned that the sluggish progress of the project was causing severe inconvenience to commuters and called upon BMRCL officials to address bottlenecks without further delay.