Mono rail work set in motion

Mono rail work set in motion
Deccan Herald

The mono rail is planned along four corridors, connecting Bannerghatta Road to Mysore Road to Tumkur Road and Bellary Road covering a distance of 51 kms.

The preparatory work for the proposed mono rail in Bangalore is taking off.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) on Wednesday opened tenders for appointing consultants for the project. Five consortia — OVE Arup and Partners, Semally and Beceom, Tonichi, I Deck and RITES together, Sowil Limited and Geo Dsick partners — have placed bids.

“One of these five consortia will be appointed as the consultants. The tender details will now be forwarded to the State Government, which will choose one among them. The process will take 15 days,” BMRC Managing Director V Madhu told Deccan Herald.

As per a preliminary survey, mono rail is planned along four corridors, connecting Bannerghatta Road to Mysore Road to Tumkur Road and Bellary Road covering a distance of 51 kms. It is estimated to cost over Rs 4,000 crore. The task of the consultant will be to chalk out a detailed project report and advise the State Government on the mono rail route, the kind of technology to be used, the appropriate model for public private participation (PPP), project cost and others.

More importantly, the consultant will advise the government on viability gap funding (the government’s share of the total project cost with the promoter).

The government has already decided to implement the project on PPP basis so that it does not burden the State exchequer. The report will be available within two months from the date of appointment of the consultant.