The Karnataka cabinet, on January 10, 2019, approved the proposal to change the alignment of the metro rail from KR Puram to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), which will increase its length by another eight kilometres. The cabinet also gave its nod to a feasibility study on the Rs 23,093-crore suburban rail project in the city.
Briefing reporters, cooperation minister Baneppa Kashempur said that these were the government’s ‘new year gift’ to Bengaluru. The new alignment for the metro rail, would begin from KR Puram, via Hebbal Nagawara and then to the KIA. As per the previous plan, the metro rail route was an extension of the Gottigere-Nagawara stretch, also known as Reach 6 of Phase II. The route was supposed to pass through RK Hegde Nagar after Nagawara, without touching Hebbal junction.
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The change in alignment, would increase the length of the metro rail from KR Puram to KIA, from 29.8 kms to 38 kms. Accordingly, the overall cost will go up from Rs 5,950 crores to Rs 10,584 crores, the minister said. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation managing director Ajay Seth said the train will run through Nagawara, Hebbal, Jakkur and an additional station of Kodigehalli. Nagawara will be an intersection. There will also be a non-stop service from Central Silk Board Junction to the airport.
The cabinet also approved land acquisition for the project and getting all the clearances from the central government. A revised financial plan for Metro Phase 2A, from Central Silk Board to KR Puram, was also cleared. An additional metro station at Challaghatta was also approved. It will be built at a cost of Rs 140 crores, the minister said.
On the suburban railway corridor, the cabinet gave its nod to the feasibility report that will cover six corridors – KSR Bengaluru to Devanahalli, Vasantha Narasapura-Tumakuru-Byappanahalli, Ramanagara to Jnanabharathi, Whitefield to Bangarpet, Hosur to Doddaballapur and Kengeri to Whitefield. “The cost of the project at this stage is Rs 23,093 crores, of which 20 per cent will be borne by the state and the centre, while the balance will be raised through debts,” Kashempur said.
Cabinet nod for Rs 5,900-crore metro link to Bengaluru airport
The Karnataka cabinet has given its approval to a Rs 5,950-crore project, for providing metro rail connectivity to Bengaluru’s international airport on the city’s outskirts
December 12, 2017: The Karnataka cabinet, on December 12, 2017, approved a 29.62-km-long metro project that will connect Nagavara and Kempegowda International Airport, with seven stations on the route. The time frame for completing the project worth Rs 5,950 crores, is 2021.
On completion, 1.2 lakh people were projected to be benefited, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister TB Jayachandra, told reporters after the cabinet meeting in Bengaluru. He said the Detailed Project Report (DPR) had been prepared and Rs 5,950 crores was expected to be invested in the project. It would be financed through Rs 1,000 crores collected by the Bengaluru International Airport Limited as passenger service fee, Rs 1,350 crores from the state government, Rs 500 crores from the centre and about Rs 3,000 crores as loan.
See also: European Investment Bank to release Rs 2,293 crores for Bengaluru metro rail project
The 42.3-km-long first phase of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Project, popularly named ‘Namma Metro’ which started in 2008, was opened to public in different phases. The last section of the first phase, measuring 11.3 kms, was opened in June 2017. The second phase is already under implementation and would add another 72 kms to the existing network. After the expansion, it was expected to carry more than 15 lakh passengers per day.
Other decisions taken during the cabinet meeting include approval of ‘Seva Sindhu’, making it mandatory for various departments to offer services through online portals and delegation of powers to the Bengaluru Smart City Limited – a special purpose vehicle under the Smart Cities Mission. Seva Sindhu has been developed, with an objective to enable a single-window access to information and services being provided by the various government departments.
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