Light rail system passes soil test

The Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, said to be the best feeder rail network for Bangalore city when compared to monorail, has passed another test.

Sources in the Infrastructure Development Department (IDD) told Deccan Herald that recently completed soil testing study, conducted as part of detailed project report (DPR) for LRT, has found no fault with the corridor wherein the feeder rail is proposed to be implemented.

“Soil testing was done at 40 different points along the length of two corridors proposed under LRT and the results are positive,” said a senior official with IDD. Soil testing, which began in JP Nagar in the month of April got completed a few days ago, he added.

LRT is proposed to be implemented for a total distance of 41.3 km in two corridors, namely from JP Nagar to Hebbal (31.3 km) and from Toll Gate on Magadi Road up to proposed Peripheral Ring Road (10 km) on Magadi Road. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 6,400 crore.

Capita Symonds - the UK-based consultancy firm for property and infrastructure solutions to which the State government had assigned the job of suggesting the best feeder rail network for the City - considered LRT more advantageous than monorail.

The Bangalore Airport Rail Link (BARL) Ltd, the nodal agency for implementing the project, is expecting the DPR to be ready in the next three months.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, BARL Director (Projects) C Jayaram confirmed that soil testing exercise has been completed.

Now the executing agency will estimate the maximum land to be acquired for implementing the project. However, as the proposed corridor for LRT is mostly along the existing roads, there won’t be much problem in land acquisition, he added.

An official from BARL said the alignment of LRT is in tune with the Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Plan. LRT intersects the Metro corridor and other mass rapid systems for better connectivity. Also, LRT network was drawn up after a detailed analysis of the Comprehensive Development Plan 2015, traffic density and a field survey, he added.