Nath divulges metro rail project details

Chief Minister Kamal Nath gave detailed description of how the Bhopal Metro Rail Project started at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the project.

The Chief Minister said that when he was Urban Development Minister, he had gone to the launching ceremony of the Metro Rail Project started in Jaipur. Prior to that, he also attended the Metro Rail launching ceremony at Bangalore and Hyderabad. At that time he had wondered why the metro rail could not be started in cities like Bhopal and Indore in our state.

Nath said that at that time he had called up the then Minister of State Babulal Gaur from Delhi and asked him why he was not starting the Metro Rail Project. Gaur told him that there were no funds and there was no money even to make DPR. The Chief Minister said that he had asked Gaur to make a proposal and send it.

Kamal Nath said that being the Union Minister for Urban Development, when the proposal came, I had approved Rs 5 crore to Madhya Pradesh at that time to make the DPR for the metro rail.

Nath also referred to the help given by him as the Union Minister, for the beautification of Bhopal and the development of the upper lake.

He said that when he used to visit Bhopal during his youth, he was embarrassed to see the plight of the big lake of Bhopal.

The Chief Minister said that it dated back to the year 1991. The upper lake was not only filthy but there were no roads around it. As Environment Minister, he had sanctioned a large amount for beautification, cleanliness, plantation and roads etc of Bhopal lake. The Chief Minister said, “Today, when I see the development works and cleanliness around the lake, I feel very happy.”