The confusion surrounding the metro rail link to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) finally seems to have been cleared with the Centre agreeing to fund the project costing ₹6,000 crore.
The cost would be shared on a 50:50 basis by the Union and the State governments.
Minister for Bengaluru Development K.J. George and Union Minister of State for Aviation Jayant Sinha discussed at a meeting on Friday various routes that could connect the city and the KIA.
Mr. George told reporters that nine such alternative routes have been identified by RITES Ltd., an engineering consultancy company. After finalising a route, a proposal seeking the Centre’s funding would be submitted to the Union Aviation Ministry. The route would be finalised after consultations with all stakeholders, he said.
The shortest one is the 25.9-km stretch from Nagawara via Kannur and Bagalur, which could take four years for completion. The longest is the 35.4-km stretch from Yeshwantpur via Yelahanka, Kannur and Bagalur that could take four years to complete at an estimated cost of ₹7,080 crore.
Earlier, the State government planned to construct a high-speed rail link from M.G. Road to the KIA. However, the proposal was put in cold storage and the responsibility was given to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. officials to explore metro link.
The Centre has also agreed to fund the suburban railway of the city, which would connect the nearest towns in and around Bengaluru.
The estimated cost of this project is ₹360 crore, Mr. George said.
1,300 responses for preferred route
The call for public consultation on the preferred route connecting the city and the KIA gathered 1,300 responses till the deadline of November 30 which Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation had set. A total of nine routes had been shared with the public, out of which they were asked to choose the one they thought was the most preferred option.
Five of these routes are extensions to the Nagawara line which is part of Phase II that connects Gottigere on Bannerghatta Road to Nagawara via Jayadeva flyover and M.G. Road. Other possible routes begin from Yeshwantpur, M.G. Road (via Mehkri Circle) and K.R. Puram. These would provide connectivity to Hebbal, Yelahanka and Yelahanka Old Town.
Several respondents also said that studies should be done at the airport-end of the stretch, and their results should be factored in, as passengers who arrive at the KIA too would use these services.
