The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) will continue with its initial plan of constructing an underground station box at Vellara Junction station, the Times of India reports.

The station planned along the red line will give commuters from areas like Vellara Junction, Bangalore Football stadium, Sacred Heart church, Cathedral high school, Garuda Mall and St Philomena’s hospital access to metro services.

The project is facing protests from All Saints Church members as they allege that the metro passing through their property will cut down 80 trees of which some are 100 years old.

Others claim that the Langford station will have a low footfall due to the presence of cemeteries near the proposed location. The media is also abuzz of the claims that the project is scrapped on demands from All Saints Church members.

BMRCL dismissing all the claims said that the church land required for Vellara station is identified and a permanent underground station box will be constructed by cut and cover method.

The land abutting the station box will be used to service tunnel boring machines, and the station’s catchment area extends up to Richmond Road covering Baldwin Methodist College, Hockey Stadium, Baldwin Boys High School and also cater to commuters from Adugodi, Koramangala and Anelpalya.

It also clarified that less than 50 trees would be affected and many of them will be transplanted so that the disturbance to green cover is minimised within the church premises.