The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is set to expand its footprint to more areas.
With the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the third phase prepared, the Namma Metro has to spend a whopping Rs 13,000 crore to execute their grand plans.
Officials said that the DPR will be sent to the state Cabinet for their approval. Once it has been approved, the project will be expanded so that the metro network can see an additional 44.65 kilometres.
The project is expected to be completed by 2028 and hopes to add another 4.65 lakh commuters to the existing metro ridership numbers.
According to the DPR prepared for the first two corridors of the third phase of the project, the first corridor will connect JP Nagar to Hebbal, with stations coming up at JP Nagar fourth phase, fifth phase, JP Nagar, Kadirenahalli, Kamakya bus stand, Hosakerehalli Cross, PES college, Nayandahalli, Nagarbhavi Circle, Vinayaka layout, Ambedkar Institute of Engineering, BDA complex, Sumanahalli Cross, Chowdeshwari Nagar, Freedom fighter Cross, Kanteerava studio, Peenya, Bahubali Nagar, BEL Circle, Patelappa Layout, Hebbal, and Kempapura.
The second corridor, according to the DPR, will connect Hosahalli to KHB colony, Vinayaka Nagar, Sumanahalli Cross, Sunkadakatte, Herohalli, Byadrahalli, Forest Gate, and Kadabagere.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, during his budget speech, had announced a third corridor that would connect Hebbal with Sarjapur Road, for which the DPR is yet to be completed.
Phase 2 challenges
There are certain challenges for Phase 2. According to the latest Namma Metro newsletter, an additional area of 2,299.34 square metre of railway land is required for the construction of a Test Track in Challaghatta Depot.
This is a part of the Reach 2 extension that connects Nayandahalli to Challaghatta station.
“We have requested the Divisional Railway Manager of South Western Railways to transfer the land on the Bengaluru-Mysuru railway line for the Metro project,” said a BMRCL official.
In the Green Line extension, the acquisition for an additional area of 1,885.11 square metre for providing road links to Chikkabidarakallu Metro Station from Anchepalya and other villages has been set aside by the High Court.
A private builder has agreed to provide an approach road through its property. It will have a width of 12.5 feet,” the newsletter read.
In case of Reach-4B (Yelachenahalli Cross to Silk Institute), the acquisition of additional land (1,842.47 square metre) is still under process.
In Reach-5 (New Line-RV Road to Bommasandra and Hebbagodi Depot), out of the 3,09,190.86 square metre required, 3,09,092.77 square metre has been acquired and handed over to the engineering section.
The balance area is in various stages of acquisition.
The Reach-6 (New Line–Kalena Agrahara to IIMB, Nagavara, and Kothanur Depot), the process of acquisition of an additional area of 5,632.88 square metre is in various stages.
Airport line
BMRCL claims that it is fast-tracking the project to connect the airport with a metro line. For Phase-2B that connects the airport line, 3,08,285.85 sqm out of 3,31,545.29 sqm required for viaduct, stations, and depots for this line has been handed over to the engineering section. Payment of compensation for the remaining area is under progress.
“As per the revised plan of Shettigere Depot, an additional area of 12,576.619 sqm is required for which notification is being sent to the government for approval,” the BMRCL official told Bangalore Mirror.
Compensation
BMRCL has spent a whopping Rs 6,500.67 crore as compensation for Phase 2. Out of this, Rs 398.48 crore for Phase-2A and Rs 1553.58 crore for Phase–2B has been paid towards compensation for 3,180 properties. “So far, we have paid Rs 94.48 crores as rehabilitation for 793 owners, 2,404 tenants, and 157 non-title holders,” the BMRCL official informed.
Metro ridership is slowly picking up after the covid break. The highest boarding for July was reported on the 30th when 5.26 lakh people used the metro. The highest revenue was collected on July 4 (Rs 1,37,10,099).