High-speed rail corridor to Devanahalli airport

High-speed rail corridor to Devanahalli airport
Delhi Metro comes to Bangalore’s aid again
Deccan Herald

After helping out Bangalore Metro, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has come to the aid of the Karnataka capital again...

After helping out Bangalore Metro, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has come to the aid of the Karnataka capital again.

The DMRC, known for its efficiency and punctuality, will prepare the feasibility as well as detailed project report (DPR) for a high-speed rail corridor (HSRC) from the upcoming international airport to the City centre.

The DMRC, which prepared the DPR for the 33-km Phase I of Bangalore Metro in partnership with RITES in 2003, agreed for the HSRC study at a meeting held in Bangalore on January 22 in which DMRC MD E Sreedharan was present.

During the discussion which was chaired by Karnataka Chief Secretary P B Mahishi, the DMRC was asked to carry out the two reports for which the boss of Delhi’s world class Metro agreed.

The meeting came after Karnataka Infrastructure Secretary V P Baligar held a meeting with the “Metro Man” in Delhi.

Official sources told Deccan Herald here that the Karnataka government has left it to the DMRC to suggest the City centre from where the HSRC originates. It is likely that the City side of the station will have world class state-of-the-art features of a station connecting the international airport should have.

DMRC, which has just been given the go-ahead for the new Delhi international airport-Connaught Place (heart of Delhi) line in the capital, is likely to study the system such as in London for the DPR.

Thus, the Bangalore City-Airport Metro will boast of several world class features — such as you can check in when you enter the metro station itself and not at the airport — as is done in London subways.

Expressway

These sources said the state government was working out different alternatives to connect the airport with the city which include a high-speed road corridor as well. When taken up, the rail corridor will be completed in three years after all clearances are available, while the road corridor will take two years for completion after the clearances.

While Mr Sreedharan was not available for comment, official sources said the organisation would shortly inform the state government on the cost involved in preparing the feasibility report and the DPR.

Besides these two connectivity projects, the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) has already been entrusted with the task of constructing the expressway connecting the airport to the city.

According to the BMRDA proposal, the expressway starts at the Hennur-Challakere stretch on the Outer Ring Road covering areas like Bagalur and then connecting the airport through the National Highway.

As for constructing the approachway from the NH to the airport — a five-km stretch — it will be taken up by the BIAL itself. BIAL CEO

Albert Brunner, who met senior officials of the civil aviation ministry in this connection here recently, told Deccan Herald:

“The approach road will be developed by BIAL, parallel to the runway, linking the NH to the terminal complex.

This road, primarily serving the passenger terminal, will also cater to the airport’s other needs.”

The Bangalore international airport is likely to be used by 8.5 million passengers and load 2.3 lakh tonnes of cargo annually by 2010.