Four years after the project was announced, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has started preliminary work for construction of two pedestrian subways at Dasarahalli and Nagasandra metro stations on the Green Line. The contractor has started making pre-cast boxes at a casting yard in Manjunathangar, said officials.
However, there is no immediate relief for thousands of metro commuters and members of the public who put their lives at risk while crossing the busy Tumakuru Road to reach the stations. They will have to wait for at least a year-and-a-half for the project to be completed.
“Excavation of soil at the project site will start once the contractor is ready with the pre-cast segments. The land acquisition has the reached final stage,” said a BMRCL official.
The metro rail corporation is acquiring a portion of an apartment complex located opposite Nagasandra station, and a portion of a vacant plot near Dasarahalli to build the subways.
Why the delay
The much-needed subways have been facing several hurdles, including a demand from the National Highway Authority of India's (NHAI) for ‘way leave charge’. The BMRCL has to pay ₹2.60 crore to the NHAI prior to taking up the project, but has sought an exemption.
“The exemption request is pending with the NHAI. But, we are taking the up the preliminary work. The NHAI should have taken up the project. Public interest forced the BMRCL to take up the project, which will not only help metro passengers but thousands of pedestrians as well.”
In December 2014, the BMRCL proposed to construct subways at three locations — Jalahalli, Dasarahalli and Nagasandra — prior to starting commercial operations between Peenya and Nagasandra metro stations. However, it could not execute the project due to various reasons, including necessary clearance from the NHAI and delays in the tendering process. The initial estimate for the project was ₹9.50 crore, but the cost has now escalated to ₹12.50 crore.
The BMRCL withdrew the proposal to construct a subway at Jalahalli after the BBMP proposed an underpass to decongest movement of traffic. However, work on the underpass is yet to begin.
