JOIN USLand acquisition blues for Whitefield Metro link
Namma Metro’s eastern extension, a 15.5-km line from Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield under Phase 2, is seeing rather slow progress.
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is still in the process of acquiring all the identified properties, which is crucial for road-widening and civil work on the stretch to begin.
The land acquisition process is turning tedious. Although BMRCL identified 275 properties for acquisition, it has sent compensation packages to the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) for just 134 pieces of land.
Of the remainder, acquiring 55 properties belonging to the National Highways Authority of India on the Baiyappanahalli side may prove particularly cumbersome, according to a BMRCL source.
BMRCL has completed valuation of 90% of properties from Mahadevapura via Sri Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital till Whitefield, a source in the corporation said.
The land acquisition on a 12-km stretch between Baiyappanahalli and Mahadevapura will get over in the next two to three months, the source added.
The source, however, said road-widening and civil works from Whitefield could be started anytime as the land had already been acquired. It takes time to start work from Baiyappanahalli as valuation of these properties is still going on, he noted.
BMRCL has proposed to take up work on the entire project in two packages. A BMRCL official told Deccan Herald that civil work would start as soon as road-widening got over. The construction would not disrupt traffic as the road would be widened to ensure smooth vehicular movement, he said without specifying the date for starting civil works.
The line between Baiyappanahalli and Whitefield will cost Rs 4,845 crore and is part of the Rs 26,405-crore Phase 2 (72.09 km).
The line is crucial to solving the perennial traffic problems along the IT corridor. While BMRCL has started civil works on two extensions (Mysuru Road to Kengeri and Puttenahalli to Anjanapura), the Whitefield line lags far behind.
It is also learnt that BMRCL has started the process of acquiring additional land for the proposed KR Puram interchange Metro station keeping in mind the new line between Central Silk Board junction and KR Puram.
Two weeks ago, BMRCL floated tenders for road-widening and construction of storm water drains. The work, estimated to cost Rs 66 crore, is projected to be completed in a year from September. Meanwhile, BMRCL is awaiting permission from the BBMP’s Forest Cell to axe 1,700 trees for the second phase of Namma Metro.
BMRCL has also proposed to widen the road between Silk Board junction and Bommasandra (13 km) and Hesaraghatta and Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (three km) before starting the Metro work. On the two stretches, BMRCL will acquire properties for civil work to start.