Cabinet to clear B'lore Metro in a few weeks

The Centre will give clearance for the Bangalore metro rail project within a few weeks, S Jaipal Reddy said.

The Centre will give clearance for the Bangalore metro rail project within a few weeks, Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy said on Sunday.

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Reddy said that the Group of Ministers, chaired by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, has finalised recommendations on the general framework of policy approach regarding metro rail projects in the country, and that the "entire Cabinet" will consider it in the next few weeks.

"As soon as the Cabinet approves the recommendations, Bangalore metro will be taken up. Bangalore metro will not be delayed beyond a few weeks anymore now", he told reporters on the sidelines of a function.

Reddy said the Government of India will extend financial and other forms of logistical support to ensure that the "dream of Bangalore metro comes true".

He allayed apprehensions in some quarters that the project may be delayed by another year if it is not cleared by the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC). The bank had been approached for a loan by the state government for the project.

"Though it (Bangalore metro project) may be delayed by a few weeks more, I don't see any big difficulty in getting loan from (the) Japanese bank", the Minister said.

He said the Centre is determined to raise Rs 50,000 crore under the mission so that state governments and urban local bodies can be encouraged to raise a "matching amount".