Swastik Metro Station: HC notice to BMRCL, Mantri Group, BBMP.

The Karnataka High Court recently ordered issue of notices to various authorities on a PIL petition questioning the legality of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement for construction of the Swastik Metro Station on Sampige Road in Malleswaram, and the development of an integrated residential and commercial complex alongside the station.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D.H. Waghela and Justice Budihal R.B. passed the order on the petition filed by Bengaluru Residents Associations' Confederation Ensemble (BRACE) and other citizens' groups. The Bench ordered issue of notices to BMRCL, the Mantri Group and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike.

Alleging that the PPP agreement entered into by the BMRCL with the Mantri Group in 2009 was illegal, the petitioners pointed out the land acquired for Swastik metro station was transferred to the private company in the guise of PPP project, which would only benefit the Mantri Group in hundreds of cores of rupees that otherwise would have benefited the State's exchequer.

The petitioners said the guidance value of a piece of property, which the Mantri Group handed over for construction of metro station, was only Rs. 53.30 crore. However, the Mantri Group had 'mischievously mentioned the guideline value of the land to be between Rs.180 crore on date fully knowing that the value applicable would be Rs. 53.30 crore.' Terming the agreement as 'one-sided', the petitioner said the transfer of all acquired land for the station to Mantri Group for the construction under PPP project was also violation of the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board Act, the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements Act and general principles of tender and public largess.


THE HINDU