Meanwhile, soft launch for 9-km stretch

The political storm over a government move to take over the project8212; proposed by one of two partners in the ruling coalition, the JD S, and opposed by the other, the BJP 8212; continued to gather strength.But the 8220;soft opening8221; passed off peacefully.

Local Congress leader and former urban development minister D K Shivakumar is said to have rallied the major chunk of the crowd, kept entertained with free food, music and T-shirts. Only a few local villagers attended the opening.

The official ribbon-cutting was done by two children from families that had given up their land for the project. The announcement of the opening featured two elderly women. Their families too had given up land for the project.

Throwing open the stretch, said NICE director Ashok Kheny, would let people experience its advantages, and they may pressure government to allow the project to go ahead.