Hauled up by the state government, Namma Metro on Tuesday said it would stop using Hindi on its signboards.



Pradeep Singh Kharola, managing director, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, announced he would abide by the directions of the Kannada Development Authority, an autonomous body set up by the state government.



The announcement came on a day KDA chairman S G Siddaramaiah visited the BMRCL office to review its use of Kannada. Online and offline campaigns have protested the use of Hindi at the stations. Last month, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lashed out against ‘Hindi imposition’ on the Metro.



Appreciating Kharola’s efforts to complete Phase 1 and 2 speedily, KDA chairman Siddaramaiah warned BMRCL it could invite breach of privilege proceedings if it continued to use Hindi. The organisation is bound by the Metro Railways Act, and the Centre can’t impose its rules on it, he said.



“Ignore the letter by a central minister suggesting that Hindi be used in Namma Metro as an official language. A mistake by officials in 2011 has opened the space for Hindi in the project,” he said.



Siddaramaiah stressed BMRCL was not a central government undertaking, and was therefore exempt from using Hindi.



Siddaramaiah was also upset BMRCL was responding in English to RTI queries filed in Kannada. “About 20% of the staff don’t know Kannada. Why didn’t you tell contractors to appoint those who know Kannada?” he said.



Kharola’s announcement to give up Hindi was verbal, and no written agreement was signed on Tuesday.

