Work on Bangalore metro rail to begin in September

Work on Bangalore metro rail to begin in September

The Hindu

MoU on the project to be signed in June

# BMRC evolving design of viaduct
# Decision on alignment of the project along CMH Road soon
# Rehabilitation package being worked out for people displaced by the project

BANGALORE: Civil works on a seven-km viaduct from M.G. Road (Chinnaswamy Stadium) to Byappanahalli, as part of the Rs. 6,300-crore Bangalore metro rail network, will commence in September. The work was slated to begin in November.

The metro rail will have 33 km of tracks when ready in five years — from Mysore Road to Byappanahalli and from Jalahalli to R.V. Road in Jayanagar.

Managing Director of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) V. Madhu told The Hindu that there were a lot of developments related to the project.

To ensure progress of the viaduct construction, the BMRC would depend on "internal intelligence", pending identification of consultants who would supervise different aspects of the project. He said traffic would be disrupted on the roads once the work of shifting the underground utility lines commenced. Work could start in 45 days, he said.

The BMRC was in the final stages of evolving the design of the viaduct, Mr. Madhu said. Different technical aspects were being studied. The BMRC was in the process of calling for tenders for the construction of the Byappanahalli depot. The State Government was expected to take a decision on the alignment of the project along CMH Road "in a week or so." A memorandum of understanding would be signed in June by the BMRC and the Union and State governments. This would define their roles.

Since the BMRC had a new system where the State and the Centre were joining hands, an MoU was felt necessary, Mr. Madhu said. The draft of the MoU was ready, he said.

Mr. Madhu said a rehabilitation package was being worked out taking the best aspects of four packages, including those from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the National Highways Authority of India. The package would be sent to the State Government soon.