BIA rail link on fast track

BIA rail link on fast track
Airport Terminal At Parade Grounds Will Complement Metro
R Krishnakumar | TNN

Bangalore: The high speed rail link (HSRL) connecting the city centre to Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) in Devanahalli may still be in the bidder qualification phase. But the Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation (KSIIDC), the nodal agency for implementation of the project, is planning big on the four stations that dot the 33.65-km rail link.
The KSIIDC plans to structure the city airport terminal (CAT) — the starting point of the HSRL on parade ground near M G Road — in a way that ensures Namma Metro (Metro has a ramp on the same location) needs are met. According to sources in KSIIDC, the CAT structure will be put up around the Metro ramp. The request for qualification (RFQ) made by the KSIIDC details that the Metro ramp will go through the CAT building but the two systems will be isolated and integrated, at the same time. The Namma Metro ramp crosses the ground diagonally, from the underground station at Minsk Square to the elevated station on M G Road.
When operational, the multi-storied CAT building will have 60 check-in counters each for international and domestic passengers. Coffee shops, shopping space, airline ticketing offices and rail offices are planned, along with parking space for about 1,800 vehicles for the “park and fly’’ passengers.
THE ROUTE
The second check-in station at Hebbal will be located at the end of the Hebbal flyover. The station assumes importance because of the government’s plan to integrate bus services near the flyover, and the station’s proximity to Ring Road.
At Yelahanka, HSRL will have its third station near National Highway-Yelahanka Town Road junction. Though the station will not have check-in facilities, passengers with hand baggage can board the train. The final station will be at BIA terminal. While the first three will be elevated stations, a final word on the BIA terminal is not out yet.
All the stations, devised in compliance with recommendations by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), will have multi-model traffic integration facilities, including feeder bus routes, approach roads, pedestrian ways and parking lots.
The pre-application conference with bidders is over and KSIIDC is expected to announce the short-list by October 21. The letter of award to the bidder is lined up for February, 2009.