Bangalore Metro will take you to the airport in less than an hour

The BMRCL is proposing to extend the Gottigere-Nagawara line

It could be anywhere between 44 and 55 minutes, depending on the stops

In future, you could reach the Bengaluru International Airport from M.G. Road in less than an hour, bypassing traffic snarls. For, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL), which is expected to include metro connectivity to the airport, has computed the time to reach the airport once Phase 2 is completed.

“Our current estimated time is 44 minutes, which can go up to 55 minutes,” said BMRCL Managing Director N. Sivasailam on Wednesday. In his interaction with reporters on the eve of the first anniversary of the launch of the Namma Metro Reach 1 from M.G. Road to Byappanahalli, he said the time factor had been indicated to the government.

“While a journey in high speed rail link (HSRL) from the central business district to the airport could take 29 minutes, it could take [us] 44 minutes.”

The BMRCL is proposing to extend the Gottigere-Nagawara line, being taken up in Phase 2, to the airport. “Initially, with fewer stops, the airport could be 44 minutes [away].

The journey could take 55 minutes if the number of stops are increased later,” he added.

Rs. 5,000 crore project

BMRCL sources said they had already started the line estimation work for the 20 km between Nagawara and the airport, and that the detailed project report (DPR) would be prepared later.

“Our estimate for the extension is about Rs. 5,000 crore. This extension may also not feature in the proposal for Phase 2 being submitted before the Public Investment Board (PIB) shortly,” an official said, and added thatthe approval could be sought later.

Phase 2 proposal

The proposal for the Rs. 26,500-crore Namma Metro Phase 2 will be submitted before the (PIB), a key approval agency at the Centre, the next 10 days, Mr. Sivasailam said.

Approval for Phase 2 — which has already got the State government okay — from the PIB is expected in two or three months.

FINANCIAL PLAN

The financial plan will be on the lines of Delhi Metro Phase 3 and involves proposals for public-private partnership in systems (tracks, rolling stocks, signal, telecom and others) and operation and maintenance.

“If the PPP mode is taken, we will be saving about Rs. 6,000 crore.”

The project had already been approved by the Ministries of Railways and Finance as well as the Planning Commission.

Anniversary

To mark the first anniversary of the launch of the metro, BMRCL will be honouring more than 20 freedom fighters identified by the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi on October 20.

The metro will also launch a green initiative in which bicycles will be rented out. The bicycle initiative will be implemented by a private partner.