BMRCL

TV Mohandas Pai

Chairman

Manipal Global Education Services

Rangoli Metro Art Centre

BMRCL MD Ajay Seth

Bengalureans have been demanding that the monthly newsletter of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited () include updates on the progress of work, reasons for delay, risks against each line for transparency and clear communication about the timeline of completion of projects.Eminent Bengalureans like, too backed the residents in their demand for more transparency from BMRCL.According to the current format, the newsletter of BMRCL highlights the contracts or deals made by BMRCL with other agencies, projects at a glance through maps and pictures of the ongoing construction, operational efficiency, ridership details and revenue earned for the month, contribution of smart cards, group tokens and group tickets, Art in Transit details and program highlights of theShashidhara K, who requested for more details on the newsletter, says, “Right now, the map (in the newsletter) and the pictures only indicate the work in progress and not the reasons for delay or milestones, or how the authorities plan to recover the time lost in delay. Pune and Mumbai metro are far more transparent when it comes to the ongoing projects. Instead of providing the progress update with percentage completion, I request them to be transparent and provide information in newsletter for each extension or new line.”While urgingfor transparency, Pai says, “Public outreach has been pathetic, information flows abysmal with BMRCL. We need fast completion, with monthly targets and information in the newsletter.”Shashidhara requested BMRCL authorities to highlight the project plan with major milestones, target completion date for each line, progress against plan in the reporting period, causes for slippage, if any with measures to recover lost time and risks against each line.He says that these will help people know the estimated time of completion of each project. “In the absence of above information, newsletter is as good as toilet paper.Millions of Bengalureans are eagerly awaiting completion of phase 2, particularly connectivity to work hubs Whitefield, ORR and Electronics City. Unfortunately, BMRCL doesn’t seem to have any accountability to commit and deliver on time. The whole project is running late by atleast 7 years, thanks to wrong contractors and equipment in phase 1,” he added.Metro connection to Whitefield and Electronic City has been delayed, but Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa promised on Sunday that the work will be expedited.