Bangalore:
Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu yesterday said connectivity to Airport and Electronics City through Metro is vital for easing the traffic congestion in the city.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting Metro work, he said "....connecting Airport and connecting Electronics City will be vital to ease the congestion in the city."
Mr Naidu said he would discuss pending issues with his ministry officials. "Whatever the permissions and approvals are needed from the government of India, they will be given."
Assuring the state of full cooperation from the central government in developmental work, Mr Naidu who is also in charge of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation said, "As far as the government of India is concerned, it has been made clear by the honourable Prime Minister that we want to take the state along with us as far as development is concerned."
He said "there is no politics in development, there may be politics in politics you can't avoid it, but as far as development is concerned no politics, no discrimination. There won't be any step-motherly treatment on their political colour," he added.
Stating that the phase one of Bangalore metro rail project would be completed by September 2015, he said "....I'm confident that they (metro officials) will adhere to it."
Commenting on phase II, an extension to the existing phase one line, Mr Naidu said "....the target is from the date of the start of the work it will take five years to complete. The preliminary work has already started like land acquisition, geo-technical soil investigation, designs of structures...."