Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) has identified 279 properties that will have to make way for Namma Metro’s line from K.R. Puram to trumpet interchange near the airport. Of these, 235 properties are owned by non-government entities.
The line will have 17 stations of which the one at K.R. Puram is under construction. Two stations will come up within the premises of Kempegowda International Airport.
BMRCL General manager (Land Acquisition) Channappa Goudar said none of the residential buildings identified is a high-rise. “BMRCL is extending the metro line from K.R. Puram to the international airport via Nagawara and Hebbal. On the Outer Ring Road, the metro line runs on the median. On Ballari Road, after Hebbal, the elevated line will be built on the right side parallel to the national highway. Properties identified for the metro line include commercial and residential buildings (ground plus three),” he said.
Land details have been sent to the State government for issuing preliminary notifications for five stations — Channasandra, Horamavu, Kalyan Nagar, Veeranna Palya, and Kempapura Cross. In 10 days, land details for the other stations, barring Hebbal, would be submitted.
To build the line from Hebbal to trumpet interchange, BMRCL has started the process of buying land from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which had acquired it in 2010–11 to build a high-speed rail link to the airport. The rail link project was shelved by the State government.
BMRCL is planning to turn Hebbal station into an integrated transport hub connecting the metro, suburban rail and the city bus network. BMRCL has engaged a consultant to come up with a plan and is in talks with various agencies. For the time being, it has identified 28,000 sq.m. of land at Hebbal for the metro station. The station will come up adjacent to the BMTC’s AC bus depot.
Kempapura in Phase III
To facilitate Phase III of the metro project, the BMRCL is making a provision for future expansion. Under Phase III, it has proposed a line from Hebbal to J.P. Nagar, which will start at Kempapura.
“As part of the airport line, a metro station will come up at Kempapura. We are in the process of identifying additional land for integrating the Kempapura station line with Phase III of Namma Metro,” said an official.
NHAI reduces interest rate
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had demanded compensation from the BMRCL for handing over the land acquired in 2010-11 while upgrading Ballari Road (NH 44).
Initially, the sum demanded was the cost of acquisition plus an annual interest of 13.8% till date.
Sources in the BMRCL said that the NHAI has now agreed to reduce the rate of interest to 10%, including a 1.5% administrative charge.
