Metro Phase II at Rs 22k cr

Metro Phase II at Rs 22k cr

November 5th, 2009
By Our Correspondent
Tags: BMRCL, metro rail corporation


Bengaluru
Nov. 4: Even as Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) works overtime to meet the 2010 deadline to complete Reach One of Namma Metro between MG Road and Byappanahalli, a detailed study has pegged the cost of Phase II of the project at approximately Rs 22,000 crore.
Sources in the government told Deccan Chronicle that around 65 km of line will be added under Phase II to the 43 km of line now being executed under Phase I. “The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which is working on the detailed project report (DPR) for Phase II, has arrived at a rough estimate of Rs 325 crore per km which translates to Rs 22,000 crore for Phase II. This phase will be taken up in 2012 after all the work is completed on the four reaches of Phase 1,” a source said.
Phase II of Namma Metro will provide connectivity between Electronic City and Yelahanka, and Indiranagar and Whitefield.
“Phase II will consist of a 36 km line from Electronic City to Yelahanka, via Central Silk Board Junction, Hosur Road, MG Road, Cantonment and Tannery Road; a 19.5 km stretch from Whitefield to 100 ft Road, Indiranagar, via Old Airport Road; a 7 km stretch which extends the north-south corridor of Phase I on the south side from Jarganahalli to Peripheral Ring Road; and a nearly 1.5 km stretch from Byappanahalli to Benniganahalli along Old Madras Road,” a source said.
The DMRC is working on the Metro report in tandem with the Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Plan (CTTP) for Bengaluru prepared by RITES. The CTTP had recommended construction of two corridors — one between PRR and Yelahanka and the other between Indiranagar Metro Station and Whitefield Railway Station — under Phase II. The CTTP had concluded that a 140 km network, including the high-speed rail link between MG Road and Bangalore International Airport (33 km) and Namma Metro’s 43 km of lines under Phase I, is required to effectively serve the major traffic corridors of the city.
“The existing north-south corridor will cater to the western parts of the city between Peenya and Kanakapura Road. As such, the developments coming up on the eastern side between Hosur Road and Whitefield and the northern side near Thanisandra and Yelahanka need another north-south corridor. The proposed corridor will cover Nagavara, Veerannapalya, Frazer Town and residential, commercial and IT industry areas along Hosur Road. This corridor will have an interchange at HAL Airport to provide direct access to the area from south and southeast Bangalore,” an official said.
Asked about availability of funds and cost escalation of the Metro project, the official said BMRCL faced no cash crunch. “The Metro project is based on cost sharing basis between the state and Centre and loans from foreign banks. For Phase I, the state and Centre share 25 per cent each which works out to Rs 6,000 crore. We have taken loans to cover 25 per cent of the cost from the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The shortfall of Rs 3,000 crore will be met through a soft loan or by floating bonds,” he said.