Construction on Phase II — extending the East-West line from Nayandanahalli to Pattangere (RVCE College) — is expected to start by June-end.
Though officials said land acquisition is not yet completed – the contentious process of deciding compensations is yet to take place – preliminary work on laying the foundation for the viaducts is scheduled to start.
“The viaducts are on government land and on roads. Simultaneously, we will proceed with land acquisition,” said an official, adding that approval from the Urban Development Department for the compensation package is expected the month-end.
While 88 properties between Mysuru Road terminal and Kengeri are in the final notification pending compensation, acquisition of eight properties for the “revised” location of Jnanabharati metro station – to bring it closer to the main gate of Bangalore University instead of besides the polluted Vrishabhavathy River as initially planned – is still in the preliminary notification period.
Earlier this month, the Hyderabad-based IL&FS Engineering and Construction Company had won a Rs. 327-crore contract for the stretch. Though the company has stated to the Bombay Stock Exchange that the contract period is 27 months, BMRCL officials “realistically” expect construction to end “in four years”.
