Deve Gowda wants public debate on metro rail

Stung by criticism from political leaders and the media over his recent demand for a review of the Metro Rail Project, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda on Wednesday stoutly defended his stand and demanded a public debate involving experts, technocrats, economists and senior citizens.

Offering clarifications on what prompted him to write to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh, he said, "I am not opposing Metro Rail project or trying to suggest that the elevated rail transport system or Mono Rail (is good for the state).

"I am not espousing the cause of any firm," Gowda told a press meet in an attempt to clear misgivings in the minds of the people that he was trying to thwart development projects concerning the city.

The Janata Dal-Secular chief, who is recovering from an ankle surgery, referred to the route maps of Metro rail and ELRTS, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the two projects.

He said the Metro Rail project executors had not submitted any comprehensive route map of the project even after ten years and asserted that the project was not economically feasible and was a burden on the exchequer.

However, Gowda sought to advocate that ELRTS would be ideal for the city to decongest the traffic, as it covers 99 kms stretch against just 33 kms by Metro rail.