Ashok Kheny has finalized a detailed project report for a 41-kilometre monorail system on NICE peripheral road
The metro-versus-monorail debate may have been settled in favour of the former in Bangalore.But make no mistake,the monorail has not been buried yet.The city will get a 41-km monorail route in as little time as two years.
Ashok Kheny,the road contractor who is already collecting toll on the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) 50-km peripheral and link roads,is ready with a detailed project report for the monorail system that will run on NICE Road connecting Electronics City and the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre on Tumkur Road.Just like the road,the rail will connect important roads that run into Bangalore like Hosur Road,Bannerghatta Road,Mysore Road,Magadi Road and Tumkur Road.
GOVT PERMISSION NOT REQUIRED
Kheny, currently in the US,confirmed work on the detailed project report.Highly placed sources in NICE said that there was no need for a fresh approval by the state government for the monorail.
The Framework Agreement between NICE and the State Government covers the mono rail project.The rail in monorail is a misnomer.Unlike a train,which is metal running on metal,monorail is actually rubber on concrete.It is basically a guided bus where the tyres are horizontally placed in relation to the concrete beam below.The Indian Railways Act controls the operation of railways and trains,but the monorail does not come under this Act.
However,even if NICE does not need permission for the monorail,it will need permission for it to be linked to the Namma Metro network.NICE Road and Namma Metro Phase II intersect at three places Tumkur Road,Gottigere at the Bannerghatta junction and Electronics City.
NICE will have to seek government permission to build stations at these and other places.NICE sources said that they plan three internodal stations and two multistoried car parking lots.
A THIRD OF THE COST
The NICE monorail is touted as a cost effective model.The technicalities are being worked out.The costing will be done at the very last,just before commencement of work,considering the market rates of the inputs at that point of time.But if we start work today,we should complete the project within two years.The report puts a timeline between 18 and 24 months, the source said.
The monorail is envisioned as not just a feeder to Namma Metro.It will complement the Metro since we estimate that there will be enough people travelling between Electronics City and Tumkur Road.
RAIL TO MYSORE
NICE also plans a high-speed 111-km monorail connecting Bangalore and Mysore on its much-delayed Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC),a source said.
However,with the controversy over the BMIC,it will take some time.As of now,the monorail around Bangalore is as close to becoming a reality as it ever was.
METRO VS MONO
THERE IS always a debate as to which of the mass transit system is better: Metro or mono.The promoters of mono argue that it is comparatively cheaper and takes up less space since the track is narrower than the train itself.However,when it comes to carrying capacity,metro beats the mono hands down.Monorail runs on a single track while the metro has a double track and its carrying capacity is estimated at four times more than the monorail per hour.Depending on the number of coaches,the monorail can carry between 500 and 600 people at a time.Though debated,the return on cost in the long run is in favour of the metro.When both systems exist,the monorail has been the feeder system.
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