The long-awaited metro connectivity to airport took a small step closer to fruition with the State Cabinet approving the 29.62-km Nagawara-Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) line on Monday.
The ₹5,950-crore line, which will have seven stations, is expected to come up by 2021, said the Cabinet note. The meeting, presided by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, also approved the imposition of a user development fee of between ₹60 and ₹80 on airport passengers to partially fund the ambitious metro line, with the State government itself pitching in ₹1,250 crore.
More than 1.25 lakh passengers will be travelling on the line per day, said Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra. The line would cater to those in north Bengaluru (Jakkur, R.K. Hegde Nagar), Yelahanka (through Kogilu cross station) as well as upcoming industrial areas near Chikkajala, after which there will be two stations to reach KIA.
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However, this is only the first step in a long process that involves getting approval from Union government, Civil Aviation Ministry, and Airports Authority of India. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. officials said construction should start after a year, and would end by the time the 22-km Gottigere-Nagawara stretch is completed.
When completed, Phase II of Namma Metro will span 102.3km, apart from the operational 42.3km under Phase I.