Rail link to new airport gets on fast track

Rail link to new airport gets on fast track
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: The proposed high speed rail link to the International Airport at Devanahalli has picked up speed with a Government Order on Wednesday approving the project and authorising the infrastructure development department to hasten work.
On Saturday the cabinet had okayed the introduction of a highspeed rail link connecting B R V Grounds (M G Road) to Bangalore International airport at an estimated cost of Rs 3,716 crore. A Special Purpose Vehicle will be created for the project and work will commence by Dec 2008.
A City Air Terminal (CAT) will be built on BRV Grounds to enable air passengers to check-in here along with the baggage. A boarding pass will be issued, and the passengers can take the train to the airport and board the aircraft. At Hebbal too, similar facilities will be set up. However, in Yelahanka, passengers can board the train without check-in procedures.
It will be a 25-30 minutes journey to the International airport, which is 34 kms from MG road. There will be two stops, at Hebbal and Yelahanka. THE MODALITIES
KSIIDC appointed as a nodal agency.
DMRC will appoint consultants to study the impact of CAT on MG Road traffic.
BMRC to be project consultants.
40 hectres of land required for the project, including 26.65 hectres of private land Eco-friendly electric train will run upto Hebbal on the median. Thereafter the track will run on the left hand side of the road till the airport.
Tree felling would be minimum during implementation of project.
Commuter fee will be Rs 200 from BRV Grounds; Rs 150 from Hebbal; Rs 100 from Yelahanka.