Expressway from ORR to airport not feasible’

Expressway from ORR to airport not feasible’
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: After pegging their opposition to the proposed expressway from Outer Ring Road to the Bengaluru International Airport to alignment issues, protesters are now saying it’s commercially unviable.
The 21.1-km access-controlled expressway, that has been handed over to the National Highways Authority of India, will benefit only 20% of airport users, said the Bangalore Airport Users’ Association. About 80% of the airport’s users, including government officials and dignitaries, will prefer to use the Bellary Road (NH-7), according to the association. “To use the expressway, commuters who reach Hebbal from the city will have to turn right and travel about 8 km on the busy Ring Road to reach the starting point of the expressway, pay toll and travel another 21 km to reach the airport,’’ said Cherian, of BAUA.
The association estimates that only about 20% of the airport users — those travelling from locations between Sarjapur Road and Old Madras Road — may prefer to use the expressway.
Cherian, while maintaining that people have to lose land for any developmental project, pointed out that the concern here was over the feasibility of the project. The government will not be able to techno-economically justify the cost of acquiring 700 acres of land and buildings at an average market rate of Rs 3 crore per acre, he said. Raja Reddy, who has been involved in protests against the expressway alignment, said with the state initiating new projects — including a signal-free ORR and widening of Bellary Road — the expressway didn’t fit the bill to improve connectivity to BIA.
Groundwork on the expressway is yet to take off as the Detailed Project Report is awaited.
toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com