Airport expressway debate on NHAI Officials Say

Airport expressway debate on
NHAI Officials Say Project’s Revenue Model Under Review
R Krishnakumar | TNN

Bangalore: The airport expressway is far from its final turn. The state has submitted to the high court that the 21.2-km expressway — from Outer Ring Road to the Bengaluru International Airport — has certain feasibility issues. But official sources said the hold-up is only temporary and the government has only asked for a review of the project.
According to officials in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), issues about the project’s revenue model led to feasibility concerns that were highlighted in the techno-economic feasibility report (TEFR). Sanjeev Raju, project director, NHAI, told The Times of India that an inspection of the project areas has been done and the required “modifications’’ will be done to make the project viable.
“The project consultants have been briefed and directed to make the changes,’’ Raju said. The official didn’t highlight the aspects that raised feasibility questions but it’s learnt that the economic component — reportedly not favourable for potential bidders of the project — was a concern underlined in the TEFR.
The expressway — a toll road to provide access-controlled connectivity to BIA — has been caught in a row over its repeatedly changed alignment which made affected property owners hit the road in protest. The Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) and PWD were entrusted with the project, in different capacities, before it was handed over to NHAI. The authority, though, has been going slow on the project due to rising public opposition as well as pending cases against the proposed alignment.
Advocate General Uday Holla, while representing the state government in a review of infrastructure projects to the high court, submitted that the expressway was not feasible. According to him, a project review is on and talks are on to see how the project can be modified.
Official sources said after the NHAI took charge, the authorities came across several hurdles which would not allow the road project to take off, including land litigation, faulty traffic projections for the road as well as the huge costs involved in land acquisition. The project involves acquisition of around 700 acres. Even at a rate of Rs 2 crore per acre, acquisition cost could run up to Rs 1,500 crore. The original project budget was only about Rs 1,200 crore.
The government was also reportedly briefed on the concerns of residents who pointed out that the road was aligned over developed areas in many villages. The state’s decision, despite the issues involved, to have another look at the road has also enraged affected property owners.
Hemchandra, secretary of the Kylasanahalli Building Owners Association, said the issue was not about the road, but its alignment. Ramanujan, a resident of Challakere, said the road appeared to cater to only 20% of Bangalore’s road users and was being forced on property owners on the route, who are not even being told in clear terms on the project status. Further, residents wonder who would come forward to fund the project that involves litigation and huge land costs. The road requires land to be acquired in villages including Vaddarapalya, Dodda Gubbi, Challakere, Kylasanahalli and Chikka Gubbi.
ROAD OF TURNS
State asks for a relook at the project Project review after concerns over economic viability Huge land acquisition costs cited as hurdle Faulty traffic projections also underlined Public opposition to road’s alignment continues