The State Government has asked the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) to take over the contentious High Speed Rail Link (HSRL) expected to connect the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) with BRV Parade Grounds in the heart of the City.
The project whose request for qualification (RFQ) was about to be invited from interested bidders will now be taken over by the BMRCL. Thus, the Bangalore Airport Rail Link Ltd which was formed as a special purpose vehicle for the project under the Karnataka State
Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC) has now been closed.
BMRCL Managing Director N Sivasailam said that the Corporation would now start selecting the private party among the five eligible bidders who qualified at the RFQ stage. When asked whether the line would remain a high-speed link catering exclusively to the airport or would be made a metro line, Sivasailam said that market forces will decide the matter as the private party would certainly expect returns from the investment.
Viability gap funding
The State Government has committed to offer land, along Sankey Road, Ramana Maharshi Road and Bellary Road, free of cost for the project whereas the central government has agreed to offer 20 per cent viability gap funding.
This 35-km rail link to the airport was estimated to cost about Rs 5,800 crore and the distance sought to be covered within 30 minutes with stations at Cubbon Road, Hebbal and Yelahanka.
The project required about 66 hectares of land, including 13 hectares of government land, nine hectares of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) land and 44 hectares of private land. The cost of private land was estimated at Rs 532 crore at market value.
Sivasailam evaded a specific answer when asked whether the new line would continue to be HSRL or become Metro. He said the line could act as HSRL as well as Metro and the modalities would be decided later. Differential fare structure could be adopted for airport link and for regular metro stations en-route, he added.
A Metro train link to the airport could cover the distance in about 50 minutes according to a rough estimate, Sivasailam said.
The countdown begins
As the countdown has begun for the commercial launch of Metro Rail in Bangalore, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has intensified its preparedness to give a feel-good to the VVIPs visiting on October 20.
Carrying out an extensive inspection drive on Saturday as well, the Palike Commissioner Siddaiah directed the officials to ensure that cleanliness is maintained and no garbage piles up along the road from Trinity Circle to MG Road. He also directed the officers to see to it that the damaged footpath is repaired in this area.
He also asked the officials from Horticulture department to increase the greenery all over the area. During the inspection, the commissioner noticed that the painting of curb stones was not done properly, for which he took the officers to task.
The BBMP has already taken up asphalting of the road from MG Road to Trinity Circle on a war-footing. The Palike officials are confident that they would finish the work in the next two-three days. As the underground drains are choked leading to overflowing of sewage from some manholes near Trinity Circle, the BBMP officials asked the BWSSB authorities to clear the manholes.
The BBMP has decided that the roads along Reach I of Metro would also look similar to MG Road and Trinity Circle.
undoubtedly Banglor is grown-up, & this is good for d city,but alas all city of our country could'nt develop,which should to be develop,
ReplyDelete