Times News Network

Bangalore, Mar 10: The Bangalore Metro Rail project got a major boost on Thursday March 9, after the Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar agreed that the Karnataka government is free to choose the gauge for the tracks.

The GoM was of the view the state should be allowed to legislate on the project. With this, the only process left before the project can take off is clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

The CCEA meeting to decide on the project is expected to take place within a week. Sources told The Times of India that the GoM decided that since Metro Rail is a state subject, the Karnataka government should have full powers to legislate on the matter. 
With this, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) proposal to build the system with standard gauge has been accepted by the Centre; the railway ministry had rooted for broad gauge. Also, the railway ministry's contention it should legislate was shot down after detailed discussions.

However, the GoM said the commissioner for railway safety (CRS) will be the authority to give safety clearances for the Metro project, similar to certification for the Indian Railways.

Agreeing to the BMRC's proposal that the CRS - who is well versed with safety clearances for broad-gauge and metregauge lines - can also be trained to give clearances for standard gauge, the GoM said the commissioner can be given appropriate training; this may take only four months.

The Metro Rail will now be governed by the Mysore Tramways Act, 1906. If any modification is required to the Tramways Act, the Centre can frame a model Act and pass it on to the state governments for adoption.

The GoM meeting was attended, among others, by Union finance minister P Chidambaram, railway minister Lalu Prasad and urban development minister S Jaipal Reddy.