BENGALURU: Defending the decision to float tenders for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the 59.6-kilometre metro corridor between Madavara in Bengaluru and the neighbouring city of Tumakuru, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said on Tuesday that BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, who opposed the move, was unaware of the project background.
Speaking to the media here, Parameshwara, who is also the Tumakuru District In-charge Minister, said, “Parliamentarian Tejasvi Surya has opposed the extension of metro services from Bengaluru to Tumakuru. Probably, he may not have sufficient input on this matter. Every day, thousands of people travel from Tumakuru. The regions of Nelamangala, Dabaspet and Kyatsandra are progressing rapidly.”
“In Bengaluru, there is mounting pressure -- be it in terms of power supply or transportation. Because of these challenges, many people have chosen to settle in the surrounding regions. Tumakuru houses Asia’s largest industrial hub spread across 70, 000 acres. Already, 150 industries have been established. The Timex factory and food processing units have come up, and land has been allotted for a Japanese township, ” he said.
With development accelerating, Tumakuru requires better connectivity, he argued. “Multi-modal transport -- whether by rail or road -- is essential. This will reduce the pressure on Bengaluru. When neighbouring cities such as Ramanagara, Kolar and Tumakuru develop, the strain on Bengaluru will ease, ” he said.