Airport Metro route unclear, BMRCL looks to govt for help

RITES has suggested many routes in the feasbility report

Commuters who are dreaming to zoom through the crowded central business district to reach Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Namma Metro will have to wait for several years.

In the absence of clarity on the route-map, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has proposed to discuss ‘all possible options with the state government in a few days’.

BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola told Deccan Herald that Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) has submitted a feasibility study report to the BMRCL, which includes several route options of connecting Metro to the airport.

“The government is yet to take a decision. We will explore all the options provided in the feasibility report and choose the best among them,’’ he said. The proposed extension of Nagawara Metro line to the airport is one of the options, Kharola added.

At the recent meeting of Bengaluru Vision group chaired by Bengaluru Development Minister K J George, the members had suggested extending the proposed Nagawara stretch to the airport.

However, no decision has been taken yet. Land acquisition process is yet to be completed for the Nagawara stretch, which is proposed to go underground till the Dairy circle on Hosur Road via MG road.

Experts say that the stretch would not  be ready at least for the next five years. A BMRCL official, however, expressed confidence of completing the work early by giving the  tunneling project work to multiple contractors.

‘Govt not serious’

Urban mobility experts, however, feel that the government is not serious on providing better connectivity to the airport. R K Misra, director, Centre for Smart Cities felt that at the current pace, the Metro connectivity to the airport is less likely to be realised in the next 20 years. The government seems less interested in expediting the project. “It’s all talk in the air, no concrete action is in place,‘’ he said.

Sanjeev Dyamannavar, founder of the advocacy group Praja-RAAG wants the government to take up the commuter rail project on priority.