Delhi Metro studying feasibility of Bangalore-Devanahalli rail link

Delhi Metro studying feasibility of Bangalore-Devanahalli rail link
Financial Express

BANGALORE: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC) has undertaken a feasibility study to construct a rail link connecting Bangalore city to the upcoming international airport at Devanahalli. The rail link, which is envisaged to connect the infotech hub to the airport, would ease traffic on the 34 kilometre-stretch and save time, according to government officials.

Officials said DMRC was expected to submit a report in six months, following which the government would float tenders seeking bids for the construction work. ‘‘The study is still in the primary stages. We are pressing for the report to be submitted as early as possible so that the tenders could be floated,’’ an official with the state’s infrastructure department told FE.

With the National Highway-7 crossing the airport site, the project’s planning authorities were also mulling a ‘‘trumpet interchange’’ for easy access to the airport, officials said.

Access links to the Rs 1,930-crore private Greenfield airport site were still under discussion, while work on the airport was nearing completion. State deputy chief minister and finance minister, BS Yediyurappa, recently announced that the nearly 4,000-acre airport would be ready for trial runs in January and for official launch in April 2008.

State secretary for infrastructure, VP Baligar, said, ‘‘Some of the works, such as civil works undertaken by L&T, are being completed ahead of schedule. The airport project is on track to be ready for commercial operations by April.’’ The airport's nodal agency BIAL (Bangalore International Airport Limited) said nearly two-thirds of the construction work that was initiated in July 2005 was completed.

A consortium involving German infrastructure company, Siemens Projects Ventures, Larsen & Toubro, and Unique Zurich Airport are building the international airport, which is envisaged to handle 14.5 million passengers by 2010.