Devanahalli in 25 mins flat

Devanahalli in 25 mins flat
DH News Service,Bangalore:
Work on the project is expected to start from December 2008 and will be completed by January 2011. Meanwhile, it has been estimated that due to the check-in station facility on BRV Grounds, the transport density in and around Cubbon Road and MG Road would increase by 12 per cent.

The dream ride of covering 34 km between Cubbon Road and Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli in 25 minutes flat willbe a reality.

The State Executive Committee on Saturday cleared the high speed rail-link costing Rs 3,716 crore which will ferry passengers from check-in station at BRV Grounds to the internodal transport station at Hebbal (check-in facility will also be available here) from where it will move to Yelahanka to finally reach the airport terminal.

The decision of the Executive Committee headed by Governor Rameshwar Thakur to clear the project comes within days after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRCL), appointed as consultants by the State government, submitted the feasibility study on the rail link.

Advisor to the Governor, S Krishnakumar, said the elevated line for the rail-link will run on the median of Raj Bhavan Road, then on Sankey Road, pass over the Windsor Manor overbridge and continue up to Hebbal Flyover. Then the line will run on the left side of NH 7 till the airport terminal.

Work on the project is expected to start from December 2008 and will be completed by January 2011.
Meanwhile, it has been estimated that due to the check-in station facility on BRV Grounds, the transport density in and around Cubbon Road and MG Road would increase by 12 per cent.

“However, as the HAL airport would be closed down, traffic moving towards Cubbon Road will also come down. We have asked a traffic engineering consultant to study the issue and recommend solutions. The same will be incorporated into the project”, he said.

There is also a proposal to link the Bangalore Metro station at Minsk Square with the check-in terminal at BRV Grounds.

Infrastructure Development Secretary V P Baligar said 13.2 hectare of government land and 28.65 hectare of private land will be required for the project. The total cost for land acquisition will be around Rs 150 crore.
According to the feasibility report, each train will have six coaches, of which one half of a coach would accommodate checked-in baggage. The maximum speed would be 160 km per hour. Initially, the train frequency could be 10 minutes and could later be reduced to six and four minutes.

Mr Krishnakumar said the government will set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to set the ball in motion. The SPV will float global tenders and the project would be executed on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis .
The project will not conflict with the expressway project being taken up by BMRDA, he said.

Governor Thakur reiterated that the Devanahalli International airport will be inaugurated on or before March 28. Interestingly, the cost of the high speed rail link to Devanahalli International Airport at Rs 3,716 crore is more than airport itself (Rs 1,334 crore).

HIGH SPEED RAIL HIGLIGHTS

* Total cost of project on completion: Rs 3,716 crore
* Total distance: 34 km
* Travel time: 25 minutes
* Frequency: Every 10 minutes
* Stations: BRV Grounds (check-in facility), Hebbal (check-in facility), Yelahanka (no check-in facility).
* Fare: Rs 200 from BRV, Rs 150 from Hebbal and Rs 100 from Yelahanka
* Work on project to start from December 2008
* Project to be completed on Jan 2011.
* Route: Elevated rail-line from BRV Grounds via Sankey Road, Hebbal, up to Devanahalli airport ( no elevation near Yelahanka Air base).
* Land required: 13.2 hectares of government land; 28.65 hectare of private land
* Land acquisition cost: Rs 150 crore