The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Will Metro make it to the airport?

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Monday, Jan 12, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Will Metro make it to the airport?

Anil Kumar Sastry

BMRCL to commission pre-feasibility study on connectivity from Byappanahalli

Study follows a Government direction to BMRCL
RITES to be asked to conduct it and submit report

BANGALORE: Even as traffic experts are voicing their concern over the Rs. 7,000-crore high speed rail link (HSRL) from the city to Bengaluru International Airport (BIA), Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) is commissioning a pre-feasibility study on Metro connectivity between Byappanahalli and the airport.

This follows a direction from the Government to BMRCL to explore the possibility of linking the city and the airport via Byappanahalli, which is going to be the largest multi-modal transportation hub for the city.

Report

BMRCL Managing Director N. Sivasailam told The Hindu that RITES would be asked to conduct the study and submit a report in three months.

Mr. Sivasailam said the study would indicate the route alignment. By the shortest route via Byappanahalli, people would have to travel 30 km from the city centre to reach the airport while it would have been 35 km via Bellary Road.

BMRCL had commissioned a detailed project report study on Metro line between Electronics City and Yelahanka under Namma Metro Phase II.

Incidentally, the Railways have proposed to start two passenger train services to the airport.

The high speed rail link proposal came under criticism as it was being seen to serve only a few thousands travelling to the airport.

ABIDe decision

The Agenda for Bangalore Infrastructure Development (ABIDe) has decided not to allow any major activity within a three-km radius of Mahatma Gandhi Road, lest the area become congested with the slated presence of Metro.

As per the original proposal, the high speed rail link would start from the BRV Parade Grounds to the airport via Sankey Road and Bellary Road.

The high speed rail link’s starting point and airport check-in facilities at the Parade Grounds were seen as putting more load on the congested central business district.

Critics questioned the rationale of having the check-in facility at the city, while the airport had acres of vacant space for the facility.

The proposed alignment will deprive residents of Bellary Road of having a Metro in future, the critics argued.

However, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRCL), consultant for high speed rail link, has supported the high speed rail link saying it was required for a city such as Bangalore. DMRCL Chairman E. Sreedharan recently wrote to the State Government asking it not to shelve the project while listing out the advantages.

Sources pointed out that a Metro would not be feasible for airport operations and a growing city and its population required a high speed rail link to the airport.

The Government investment for the project will be the minimum (Rs. 700 crore) to be used for land acquisition, while the balance amount will be borne by the private player.

Metro, the sources said, would be viable only when the traffic load was heavy, and at present, the stretch between Yelahanka and the airport lacked that potential.

The Government apparently chose Byappanahalli as it was being transformed as a major transportation hub.

While South Western Railway would build a station of international standards, the area would be converted into a multi-modal transit centre with changeover facilities for Metro and bus services.

Thus, it would be easier for air passengers to catch a Metro to the airport from Byappanahalli rather than from the Parade Grounds, the sources added.

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