Delay in Namma Metro Phase 3 tenders pushes deadline to 2031, costs rise 5%
Bengaluru: The delay in inviting civil work tenders for Namma Metro’s Phase 3 has pushed the project deadline by six months to May 2031 and increased costs by 5 per cent to over ₹16,300 crore, officials said as reported by Deccan Herald.
Phase 3, spanning 44.65 km across two corridors, received Union Cabinet approval on August 16, 2024, and its foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 10 this year. However, the state government’s plan for a double-decker (metro-cum-road) flyover along the route has stalled progress.
Land acquisition, utility shifting and tree clearance are still pending. Of the 6,72,117 sqm required, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) is yet to take possession. The corporation has also sought full state funding of ₹9,612 crore for the double-decker plan, which awaits cabinet clearance.
Civil tenders, split into eight packages, are expected to be floated by mid-September and finalised by November. Work is likely to begin by December or January. Funding will include a ₹6,770-crore loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The final approval is expected by November.
The Phase 3 project includes Corridor 1 from JP Nagar 5th Phase to Kempapura (32.15 km, 22 stations) and Corridor 2 from Hosahalli to Kadabagere (12.5 km, 9 stations). Construction is expected to take five and a half years.
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Guv asks Karnataka govt to relook grading system for third language in SSLC
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Governor has called for a comprehensive examination of concerns over the state government’s decision to award only grades, without marks, for the third language in the SSLC examination, following a representation highlighting its potential impact on academic engagement and linguistic diversity.
In a communication to state Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, Secretary to Governor R Prabhu Shankar forwarded a representation submitted by the Association for Preservation of Local Languages, Bengaluru, which raised apprehensions about the policy’s implications for students, teachers and the broader education system.
“I am directed to forward herewith a copy of a representation submitted by the Association for Preservation of Local Languages, Bengaluru, which has been addressed to the Governor of Karnataka, concerning the recent decision to award only grades, without including marks, for the third language in the SSLC examination,” the letter stated.
The representation underscored the importance of the third language in promoting linguistic diversity, awareness and intellectual development among students, while cautioning that a shift to a grading-only system may inadvertently diminish the academic importance of the subject and affect students’ motivation to engage seriously with it.
It further reflected concerns among teachers, parents and educationists regarding the long-term implications of the move on the quality and inclusiveness of school education in the state.
“The Governor has taken note of the issues raised in the representation and desired that the matter be examined comprehensively, keeping in view its academic and administrative aspects across the education sector,” the communication said.
The Chief Secretary has been requested to examine the matter in consultation with the Department of School Education and other concerned authorities and “take such action as deemed appropriate in the larger interest of students and the State’s educational objectives,” it added.
