Byappanahalli terminal to accommodate 170 coaches

Byappanahalli terminal to accommodate 170 coaches
The Hindu

The Metro terminal is expected to cost Rs. 97 crore

# Space above the terminal to be developed into a commercial complex
# BMRC wants area along metro tracks be declared commercial corridor

BANGALORE: Byappanahalli will no longer be the same once the proposed Metro terminal comes into being.

The terminal will have a capacity to accommodate 170 coaches and the space above it will be developed into a huge commercial complex.

The terminal spread across 1.5 lakh sq m is estimated to cost Rs. 97 crore.

The complex above the terminal will measure 2.25 lakh sq ft., according to V. Madhu, managing director, BMRC.

The BMRC has recommended that the area along the metro tracks be declared as commercial corridor.

In this corridor, the BMRC wants the floor area ratio to be relaxed so as to keep it at 5:1.

Mr. Madhu pointed out that in Hong Kong the metro railway stations had high-rise buildings. In one case, a station had an 80-floor building. In another case, a 500-unit apartment had come up over the railway station.

The commercial development was necessary for the Metro to sustain itself.

Most metro rail networks in the world depended on "non fare-box" revenue to make up for the loss they suffer in operating the highly subsidised services, Mr. Madhu said.

The Bangalore Metro too would have to generate non fare-box revenue, he pointed out.

The BMRC has invited tenders for the detailed design of the yard, depot-cum-workshop

and podium block for property development.

The BMRC has plans to develop another yard near Jalahalli Cross where it proposes to station about 110 coaches. It has already acquired over 100 acres of Defence land near the Ayyappa Temple. The BMRC is giving priority to complete Reach 1 (Chinnaswamy Stadium to Byappanahalli). It is to be ready by end 2008.

Viaduct

BMRC has announced the names of the six entities that have bid for the construction of the viaduct (elevated structure for tracks) under the Reach 1 of the project (Chinnaswamy Stadium to Byappanahalli).

They consist of five consortia and one individual company.

The entities are Kajima (Japan) - AFCONS (India); Persys (Malaysia) - Valecha (India); ITDCEMINDIA (India); Sembcorp. (Singapore) - Punjlloyd (India); Navayuga Engineering Co. (India); and IRCON (India) - Simplex Concrete piles (Ltd) (India) - BBJ (India).

The technical offers of the consortia and the company were opened on November 30.

The financial quotes of these companies that qualify the technical criteria would be opened soon.

The work will be awarded to the successful bidder after the BMRC board approves it.