Get, set to zoom to airport at high speed

Get, set to zoom to airport at high speed
BY R. JAYAPRAKASH
BENGALURU


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The government will officially launch the high speed rail link project to the Bengaluru International Airport on August 1.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa will announce the modalities of the Rs 3,716 crore project on that day and spell out a detailed plan to execute the project that envisages a high speed rail that will ferry air passengers from BRV Grounds to BIA at a top speed of 160 kmph.

Sources in the government told this newspaper that Karnataka State Industrial Investment Development Corporation which is the nodal agency for the project has already registered Bengaluru Airport Rail Link Corporation. Expression of interest was called on July 2.

“We are now working on documentation for the project and the KSIIDC MD will also head BARLC.

BIAL, the state government and the Centre will enter a tripartite agreement for the project. We have sought viability gap funding of about Rs 500 crore and BIAL will also chip in for the project with Rs 35 crore.

The Delhi Metro will be the consultant for the project,” the sources said.

The BARLC has already started functioning with stake holders including BBMP commissioner, BDA commissioner, infrastructure secretary and BMRCL MD as board members.

“Work on the project will begin in March 2009 and the rail link will be operational by March 2012,” the sources added.

The 33-km track will run on the median of the main road from Raj Bhavan till Hebbal and then on the eastern side of the highway.

The authority is already in talks with BMRCL to integrate Metro Rail and the high speed rail link. The BMRCL is building a massive underground station at Minsk Square and an interchange here is on the cards.

The high speed train will carry up to 450 passengers at a time and ticket rates will be Rs 200, Rs 150 and Rs 100, depending on where the passengers alight.