BMRTL is now BMRCL, work to begin by November

BMRTL is now BMRCL, work to begin by November
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The re christening of Bangalore Mass Rapid Transit Limited (BMRTL) to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) seems to have brought luck.

The defence ministry has sanctioned 102 acres of defence land for the metro project.

The acquisition of private land is expected to be over in two months and the work on the project will take off by November.

The total land required is 217.34 acres of which 27.70 acres is private property.

The properties to be acquired number to 752, of which 455 are commercial buildings, 233 are residential and 74 are Government buildings.

“The Chief Secretary will hold a meeting with regard to the Government property on Monday. As soon as the Government gives the green signal, Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Board (KUIDB) will acquire the private properties,” K.N. Shrivastava, Managing Director, BMRCL said.

The construction of the first section from Bypanahalli to the Cricket Stadium will begin in November and this section is expected to be operational by April 2009.

Tenders have been invited and the list of the shortlisted candidates will be announced in the next 10 days.

The total project cost is Rs. 6,296 Crores. “This is cost estimated keeping in mind the time till the end of the project,” he said.

The rail gauge will be standard and will have 35 stations. The total distance of the metro line will be 36.50 kms of which 29.15 kms will be elevated, 0.65 kms at grade and 6.70 kms will be underground.

The maximum speed will be 80 kmph and the end to end travel time will be 33 minutes. The rider ship estimated in 2009 is 8.70 lakhs per day.

BMRCL office will become fully functional by November at the new office premises on the 3rd floor of BMTC building in Lalbagh Road.

The company will have 84 executive engineers, 66 supporting staff and four management staff including the Managing Director and functioning directors. The company will also have a new logo and has invited entries for the logo competition.

Speaking about the objection to the alignment through CMH road, he said that

BMRCL had to ultimately follow the experts’ view, which have suggested the alignment. “People will be affected, but we will try to make the damage minimum,” he said.

The acquisition of properties on CMH road has been reduced from 55 to 22, he said.