From MG Road to new airport in just 15 min!

From MG Road to new airport in just 15 min!
R Jayaprakash | TNN

Bangalore: You can reach the upcoming international airport from M G Road near BRV grounds in just 15 minutes! This dream will become true once the proposed high-speed train takes off. Keeping public concern on lack of connectivity to the new airport in mind, the government plans to put up an exclusive rail network. It wants to do it the Metro Rail way.
In the next few weeks, the government will float a Bangalore Airport Link Rail Corporation and set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to set the ball in motion. With just over three months to go for the commissioning of the new airport, this comes as a welcome relief to all.
“The tentative name suggested is Bangalore Airport Rail Link Corporation on the lines of Bangalore Metro. The idea was mooted after a brainstorming session held last week where DMRC’s E Sreedharan also participated. The governor’s office will seek Centre’s consent in the absence of an elected body here,’’ officials working on the project said.
The rail link has been proposed from MG Road near BRV Grounds to Devanahalli International Airport. This 30-km non-stop train is estimated to cost Rs 4,000 crore and will be implemented on BOT basis. It will run parallel to the existing Hyderabad track — this will avoid land acquisition hurdles. Once the corporation is floated, a DPR will be prepared and global tenders floated. There will clarity once the jurisdictions of the SPV are spelt out.
Though there were several government agencies which could have been roped in to execute the project, the members at the meeting were unanimous about having a separate corporation. The corporation will have board members comprising civic stakeholders, railway authorities, BMRC MD and urban development secretary. It will be headed by a senior IAS officer.
rjay.prakash@timesgroup.com EXPRESSWAY JINXED?
After dilly-dallying over the proposed expressway from outer ring road to Devanahalli airport for over two years, the government now wants the Union government to take up the project. The 21-km expressway was mooted for dedicated road connectivity but the project is still on paper.