Metro Rail project taking shape

Metro Rail project taking shape
Work on the Metro Rail project is progressing steadily. Sai Prasanna reports


Work on the Metro Rail project has reached a s t a g e where various components like the civil works, mechanical works, electrical works, tunnelling, signalling and telecommunications (viaducts, stations, underground, electric traction etc) along with shifting of utilities, road widening works, and land acquisition and rehabilitation are in progress.
As of now, 33 milestones have been reached of the 151 milestones that span the entire project, with a physical progress of 18 percent. The consultants for the project comprise four firms that were appointed after consultation with the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) which is the funding agency.
Land acquisition
As regards land acquisition, 80 percent of the land has been notified and is in the possession of the Government. Compensation has been offered and most landowners have accepted it and started surrendering land in Reach 1 from BRV Police Parade Ground to Byappanahalli, Reach 2 from NGEF to Mysore Road Terminal, Reach 3 from Swastik to Yeshwanthapur, Reach 4 from K R Road to R V Road terminal. Some land owners in areas in Reach 2 are expected to surrender their lands by the end of June and Reach 3 by the end of July. As regards Reach 4, the notification for land acquisition is awaited from the Government.
Shifting of utilities
With respect to shifting of utilities, in Reach 1, most of the work has been completed and the rest are in the final stages. Diversion of KPTCL lines in Reach 1 are in progress. Survey work in Reaches 2, 3, and 4 has been completed. The Letter of Award (LOA) to proceed with the work related to shifting of utility lines by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has been issued and work has already begun. The notice inviting tenders (NIT) for shifting BESCOM lines in Reach 2 and 3 have already been issued. The tenders are under evaluation and the work will be awarded by this month.
Tenders have been issued for work on Reach 4 and the technical bids are under evaluation. Work is expected to commence by the beginning of May.
The design contract for the viaduct in Reach 1 has already been awarded and the construction of the viaduct at a cost of Rs 138 crores is in progress. Design work for Reaches 2, 3, and 4 is in progress and the tender for construction of the viaduct will be issued by this month end or the first week of May. Station designs
The stations in Reach 1 design have been completed. Design work is under progress for the other three. Orders for the offer received for the construction of four stations (two stations in one package) out of the six in Reach 1 will be issued before the first week of May after evaluation. Tenders for the construction of stations in the other three reaches are to be issued by the first week of May.
Work has already begun for the first package of two stations in Byappanahalli depot and tenders for other two will be issued once the court case regarding land acquisition has been settled. Survey of land has been completed for the Peenya depot and the tender document is under preparation. Responses to the tenders for the supply of rolling stock have been scheduled for this month. The pre-qualified tender documents for signalling and telecommunication have already been issued and the tender specifications are under preparation. The tender has been scheduled for mid-May.
The main tender for electric traction has been scheduled for 22nd September and the decision on the bid for the design will be out before this month.
The pre-qualification documents for the underground stations and tunnels have been approved by the JBIC and the main tender has been scheduled for the end of this month. The tender document for the import of 60 kg head-hardened rails and detailed design consultants for ballistics slab track are scheduled to be notified by the first week of this month.