Minister R Roshan Baig to back experts' view on Cantt Metro

BENGALURU: Urban development minister R Roshan Baig on Wednesday said he would go with the opinion of technical experts on the choice of location for the metro station at Cantt, though he would have personally preferred the proposed metro station to be closer to Cantt railway station.

“I belong to neither side --those opposing or supporting the new alignment. But I would go by what experts say,“ said Baig, who is also the local MLA from the Congress. The project falls in his Assembly constituency of Shivajinagar. “I grew up in that area, and know every nook and corner there. The Cantt railway station is already congested, and the railways will require more land when they go for an expansion. There is also a possibility that having two stations at one location might increase congestion,“ the minister said.

In response to reports that building the new station as per the original alignment would incur additional costs, he said, the government would then prefer the cost-effective option because the government does not have funds to support more.

Sections of citizens and Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan have been campaigning in favour of original alignment saying that will integrate the metro station with Cantt railway station and help metro users.