DMRC report on high-speed rail link to airport ready

DMRC report on high-speed rail link to airport ready

B.S. Ramesh

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2011

Concession agreement is to

be signed soon

Discussions on to finalise the exact alignment

BANGALORE: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) on the 33.41 km high-speed rail link from Bangalore city to the international airport at Devanahalli.

According to sources in the State Government, discussions are on with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) to finalise the exact alignment of the project. With a special purpose vehicle (SPV)-Bangalore Airport Rail Link Limited (BARLL) already set up to oversee the project, the sources said, advertisements inviting “expression of interest” from prospective bidders would be issued shortly.

The concession agreement is to be signed soon and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2011. Incidentally, the DMRC has been appointed project consultant.

According to the sources, the rail link will start from Police Parade Grounds where the City Airport Terminus (CAT), with check-in facility, will be located.

The alignment will flow on Cubbon Road, Chowdiah Road, Ramana Maharshi Road, Hebbal, Yelahanka, Bellary Road along NH 7 and terminate at BIAL.

There will be a check-in station at Hebbal and a pick-up station at Yelahanka.
Coaches

Each train will have six fully air-conditioned and vestibule coaches with a carrying capacity of 420 passengers. The trains will initially run with a frequency of 10 minutes and the fare structure (as arrived at now) is Rs. 200 per passenger from CAT, Rs. 150 from Hebbal and Rs. 100 from Yelahanka.
DRC report

According to the DRC report, the journey time from the city centre to BIAL will be 25 minutes. The journey time from Hebbal will only be 18 minutes.

Each coach will have space for baggage and 80 per cent of passengers will travel seated, while 20 per cent will have to stand. The maximum speed is 160 kmph and the maximum operating speed will be 145 kmph. Initially, 10 sets of trains will operate on the track.

Two city terminals have been planned where air passengers can check-in and obtain boarding passes. These will be at Police Parade Grounds (M.G. Road) and near Hebbal flyover. The M.G. Road terminal will have parking facility for 1,700 cars. A car maintenance depot will come up at the airport.

The DPR says 231 trees on the proposed alignment route will have to be cut and 375 trees pruned. The project needs 48.75 hectares (ha) of land (20.10 ha of government land and 28.65 ha of private lands). The estimated cost of acquiring private land is Rs. 155 crore.

It has estimated that the project at June 2007 prices is expected to cost Rs. 3,716 crore.