Tender for BIAL rail link likely after polls

Tender for BIAL rail link likely after polls
DH News Service, Bangalore:
There's finally some good news on the proposed high speed rail link to Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) at Devanahalli...


The State Government that had established a SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle), the ‘Bangalore Airport Rail Link Limited (BARLL), for implementation of the Rs 3,796 crore project on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model with private participation, is all ready to call for an Expression of Interest (Tender), once the elections are over.

Sources told Deccan Herald that with the electoral process on, the project has been kept on hold. “We are waiting for elections to get over. All documents pertaining to the floating of the global tenders are ready. It will be on the list of infrastructure projects to be accorded priority when a new government is formed,” added government sources.

It may be recalled that the state executive committee had cleared the project, based on the advice of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the consultant for the project that recommended the BOT model with equity participation from the state and centre. The BIA had also agreed to invest 10 per cent in the project.

However, the project faced hurdles after the project was re-designed to avoid it coming in the way of the six-lane elevated road project of the NHAI (National Highway Authority of India). It was sorted out and decided that the high speed train will traverse on the left side of NH 7, Bellary Road from Hebbal onwards.

The project promoter, who will be selected after global tender is floated, is expected to commence work in November this year.