Sleepless METRO

Metro leaves residents sleepless :

            Those staying around CMH Road station complain that the ear-splitting noise from six granite-cutting machines is posing a serious health risk.

            Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation authorities are in a race against time to ensure that the Namma Metro is commercially operational as quickly as possible, but residents around CMH Road are complaining of sleepless nights due to the hectic work. Residents say they have not had a decent night’s rest in the last couple of month’s because the contractor involved in building the Metro station, has deployed dozens of workers to cut granite slabs in the residential area. The workers begin their task early in the morning and continue until midnight. The ear-splitting noise from the machines and the clouds of dust created by the cutting work are posing a serious health risk, residents say. When repeated pleas to the contractor fell on deaf ears, they decided to approach the Indiranagar police.

            Satish Rajanna, a long-time resident of 10th Cross, First Stage, Indiranagar, told Bangalore Mirror: “There are six granite cutting machines at the site. They are being used non-stop until late in the night. What is more, they don’t even apply water while cutting these slabs. Water helps reduce the noise. We have not been able to sleep for the last couple of months.”

             Satish revealed that BMRCL had earmarked a special areas where such work could be carried out. “We won’t have this problem if they work at the designated area. But this contractor is determined to make our life miserable. So we have sought police assistance,’’ Satish said. R Rajagopal, another resident of the area, alleged that the waste granite pieces are strewn all over the area, hindering pedestrians and motorists. “The BBMP is responsible for sweeping the roads, but they say it’s the job of the Metro workers. While they keep passing the buck, motorists and pedestrians are having a tough time,” Rajagopal said.

             Some residents say they cannot take their vehicles out of their houses because the contractor is using part of the barricaded road to park heavy vehicles. “We can’t walk, nor can we take our vehicles out,” Satish said. The contractor promised to shift work to the designated area only after the Indiranagar police arrived on the scene. But much to the agony of the residents, two fresh truckloads of granite slabs arrived on Monday. When the residents protested, the contractor guided the trucks to the designated area. But not before some of slabs were already unloaded.

Yashwant Chouhan, BMRCL spokesperson and public relations officer, promised to look into the issue.

“If work is disturbing the peace and quiet of the people, we will certainly ask the contractor to shift the work another area,” he said.