Bangalore Metro takes the first formal step for its dream plan

Bangalore Metro takes the first formal step for its dream plan
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The much-awaited Bangalore metro rail project has finally got off the ground. Bangalore Mass Rapid Transit Limited (BMRTL) has begun the tendering process thus taking the first formal step towards making the project a reality.

The national pre-qualification bid for civil works and a global bid for the appointment of general consultant for the project have been floated, BMRTL Managing director K.N. Srivastava said.

The civil works tender for the seven kilometer stretch between M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and Byappanahalli, was floated a few days ago. The last date for participating is April 15, he added. The global general consultant tender was floated on Monday.

The metro rail project was cleared by the State Government recently and has been granted pre-project clearances by the Centre. The pending Central clearances are expected to be discussed at the Project Investment Board meeting that is likely to be slated for the second week of April. Financial closure is slated for May 2005 and works will begin soon after.

BMRTL has identified 13.55 hectares of the Government land, 34.30 hectares of private land and 41.15 hectares of Defence land for acquisition, which will cost Rs. 600 crore. The total land area also includes 26.7 hectares of built-up area and 732 properties. Besides obvious benefits such as providing an efficient, safe and convenient means of transport in all four directions to 8.20 lakh commuters per day, metro will connect 32 stations in the city. The rail promises to take no longer than 33-45 minutes to travel from end-to-end, thereby reducing the current commuting time by almost half.