Infrastructure task force has its task cut out

Infrastructure task force has its task cut out
Anshul Dhamija | TNN

Bangalore: As the date draws nearer for the opening of the greenfield Bangalore International Airport, the heat is on to set the house in order and provide the requisite infrastructure.
On Thursday, a high-level task force set up to oversee the development of roads and other infrastructure leading to the airport, will meet at 3.30 pm in Vidhana Soudha. It will be headed by the state’s additional chief secretary.
Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Karnataka, Reguraj, told TOI: “The task force will discuss ways to improve the travel time of passengers as well as devise a number of short- and long-term measures relating to infrastructure.’’
The Times of India reported on November 6 that a task force was to be formed. Three days ago, the chief secretary formally approved the task force. Sources told TOI that short-term measures being considered include setting up of signboards, widening existing national highway leading to the airport to eight lanes, construction of service roads and underbridges and construction of a dedicated bus service corridor.
The task force will also look into the progress of the construction of the trumpet flyover at the junction where the road from the airport meets Bellary Road. “The design of the trumpet interchange has been finalised in coordination with the NHAI to accommodate the expansion to eight lanes. The interchange work will not be delayed. Most of it will be ready for the airport opening date of March 30 and completed by July 2008,’’ said Albert Brunner, CEO, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL). Also proposed in the short-term is the re-alignment of traffic going from the city towards the airport, and the setting up of an entry point on the eastern side of the airport.
The Times of India has learned that a schedule for implementation of these short-term measures will be drawn up in the meeting.
In the long term, the task force is thinking of an express train service, a Peripheral Ring Road and an Express Highway Ring Road, sources said.
The meeting is expected to be attended by principal secretaries in the departments of finance, PWD and infrastructure development, commissioners of the BDA and BBMP, representative of BMRDA, managing directors of BMRC, BMTC, KSIIDC, KUIDFC, commissioner of police, chairman CII, presidents of BCIC and FKCCI and the CEO of BIAL.