Monorail, HSRL to go on stream soon

Monorail, HSRL to go on stream soon
Global Tender For Two-Phase Monorail In The Offing; High Speed Rail Work To Begin In Feb 2011
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: After many ayes and nays, the monorail is turning into a reality. The Karnataka government will soon invite global tenders and also award contracts for some key transport infrastructure projects in Bangalore, including the monorail and High Speed Rail Link (HSRL) to the international airport.
The global tender for the detailed project report (DPR) for the monorail in Bangalore will be floated soon, which in the first phase will connect the north and south of the city — Hebbal to JP Nagar — totalling 34 km. It will act as a feeder service to the Metro, and will be executed through the Swiss Challenge method.
Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa told reporters on Monday that the monorail project would be taken up for approval in the next cabinet meeting. It would be implemented in two phases, with an estimated length of 60 km. The cost is estimated at Rs 140 crore per km, taking the total project cost to around Rs 8,400 crore. The state government would be coming up with a DPR as well as various concessions for the project soon.
HIGH SPEED RAIL
On the HSRL project, which will serve as a rail link from the centre of the city to the international airport, the state government is expecting work to begin in February 2011. The chief minister said the concessions agreement, DPR and requirements have been to sent to five short-listed bidders and they are expected to get back to the government in the next 15 days.
The land acquisition process for HSRL project is expected to begin very soon, and it is likely that the government would enter an agreement with the winning bidder by August this year. “Actual work will start from February 2011,’’ Yeddyurappa said. HSRL is expected to have a travel time of 25 minutes to the airport and plans are to have 20 trains running daily.
However, the delay in awarding the HSRL project has seen a cost escalation, with estimated investments touching Rs 6,990 crore from the earlier figure of Rs 5,770 crore. Yeddyurappa said they are expecting a grant of Rs 1,040 crore from the Centre, and the state government will take up 26% equity in HSRL.
The contract will be awarded to one of the five consortia — Reliance Infrastructure Limited and CSR Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock Co Ltd, L&T Transco Limited, ITD-ITD Cem Joint Venture, Pioneer Infratech Pvt Ltd and Siemens Project Ventures and Lanco Infratech Ltd and OHL Concessionaire — by May-end to execute the project.
METRO RAIL
On the ongoing Metro project, the government has decided on expanding Phase II, totalling around 45 km, connecting centres like IIM-B, Nagawara, Byappanahalli, ITPL, Mysore Road, Kengeri and Hesarghatta. This expansion would require an investment of around Rs 14,000 crore.
Metro rail tracks to get Austrian touch
Bangalore: A ballastless track with 1,435-mm gauge width is being welded. Very soon, it will be fitted with imported rails and fittings from Austria. This is Bangalore’s first Metro rail track on Reach-1.
According to BMRC sources, track work along the entire MG Road stretch will be completed by July 2010. “It’s been a month now since tracklaying work started on this stretch. Of the 1.7-km stretch from Trinity Circle to Anil Kumble Junction, 66 metres of track is complete now,” they said.
At present, two spans of the total 51 on MG Road stretch have the tracks fitted on. Preparatory work has also started on some stretches. Four other locations have been identified along Reach-1 for the next track. This includes the stretch starting from the opposite direction at Anil Kumble Circle that is expected to begin in another 10-15 days.
By mid-May, track work will begin at Old Madras Road and Indiranagar. The entire Reach-1 is expected to be covered by September. Preparatory work for the next step on Reach-1 — traction and electrical signalling — has also started.
MONORAIL CORRIDORS
Hebbal to JP Nagar - 34km Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) to Toll Gate along Magadi Road - 9km Kathriguppe Road to National College - 5km Hosur Road to Bannerghatta Road - 15km
CORRIDOR I (ALONG OUTER RING ROAD)
Ganapati temple in JP Nagar with Metro Phase II Banashankari with Metro Phase II Katriguppe with Metro Phase II Mysore Road with Metro Phase II Magadi Road with Metro Phase I Tumkur Road with Metro Phase I Hebbal with High Speed Rail
CORRIDOR II
Chord Road junction (Phase I) Beggar’s Colony junction (Phase I)
ROUTES
Majestic - Hudson Circle - Wilson Garden - Dairy Circle - Agaram Lake — 14.2km Wilson Garden - Banashankari - Mysore Road - Majestic — 15.3km Majestic - Rajajinagar - Basaveshwaranagar - Mahalaskshmi Layout - Yeshwanthpur - Malleswaram - Sadashivanagar - High Grounds — 15 km
Cantonment - Indiranagar - Domlur - Ejipura - Koramangala — 14.6 km
HISTORY
Proposal from M/s Scomi Geodesic Proposal submitted to BBMP earlier Presented at BMLTA meeting Sub-committee formed to review and recommend Recommendation would be brought before ABIDe for approval
ADVANTAGES
Requires minimum space both horizontally and vertically Smaller footprint Feel of open space Grade-separated Emergency walkways
DISADVANTAGES
Not compatible with rail Turnout with high speed difficult
CORRIDOR IN PHASE II
Madavara to Hesarghatta - 4.02 km Puttenahalli to Anjanapura - 6.79 km Mysore Road to Kengeri - 7.70 km Byappanahalli to ITPL - 11.60 km