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Vijay Mallya to rethink UB role in Bangalore light rail project

United Breweries Limited, which had bid for the Elevated Light Rail Transport System in Bangalore, would not go ahead with the project if it was found to be commercially unviable, UB chairman Vijay Mallya said in Bangalore today.

Mallya said a leading expert had been exclusively appointed to study the feasibilty of the project.

He replied in the negative when asked about the viability of the project. Even Karnataka Chief Minister J H Patel was against going ahead with the project, he added.

The project was originally proposed to be taken up as a joint venture with the state government. But a feasibilty study had now become necessary with the government opting out of the project.

Civil Aviation Minister Ananth Kumar had also stated yesterday that the project would be a non-starter and that the railways had already taken up an alternative system.

Kumar said the Centre had approved a six-lane ring road to be called Cyberlore Necklace connecting the entry points of the neighbouring states to create an interlink facility for the railway network in the city. The project, covering a 145 kilometre stretch, would be taken up at a cost of Rs 1.45 billion, he added.

Addressing members of the Karnataka unit of the All India Manufacturers Organisation, he said the ELRTS could not be implemented due to non-allocation of land and infrastructure bottlenecks. However, the railway ministry was in favour of creating an inter-model transport system by renewal and upgradation of the existing metre-gauge lines in and around the city, which were now abandoned. A study has already been completed, he disclosed.

He said the line between Yelahanka and the Hindustan Aeronautical Limited near the airport, besides the one between Yashwantpur and Kengeri, could be connected to Bangalore. A proposal in this regard was accepted by the railways and a feasibility study would be taken up immediately and completed within a month, he added.

UNI