Outer Ring Road route may have 13 Metro stations

The proposed Metro line along the Outer Ring Road (ORR), which is part of Phase-II (A), is likely to accommodate 13 stations from Central Silk Board to Krishnarajapuram. However, the final decision is yet to be taken.

For now, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) has deployed in-house resources to prepare a detailed project report (DPR). Pradeep Singh Kharola, BMRCL managing director, told DH that the preparation of DPR is in the final stages.

“There are roughly 13 stations. The project report, which is expected to be ready by October-end, will be forwarded to the state and Union governments for approval,” he said.

Covering an 18-km stretch on the congested ORR, the elevated Metro corridor may accommodate stations at 14th Main Road of HSR Layout, Agara, Iblur junction, Bellandur (after flyover), RMZ Infotech, New Horizon College, Rainbow Hospital, Kadub-eesanahalli, Marathahalli and Mahadevapura. A BMRCL official, however, said the exact location of the stations, which will be based on many factors including land availability, will be finalised in a few weeks.

Under Namma Metro Phase II, Krishnarajapuram is part of the extension of the 15.5-km line between Baiyappanahalli and Whitefield. Silk Board junction is part of the 18.82-km line between RV Road and Bommasandra.

Rs 3,600-crore project

The state government, for the first time, has proposed to raise funds for the Rs 3,600-crore project through ‘Innovative Financing Model’. “Several companies on the ORR have come forward to support the project and push for its early execution. We will introduce premium floor space index (FSI), betterment charges, Metro access charges and providing building space above the Metro station to raise funds,” a BMRCL source said.

R K Mishra, vision group member noted that the government can raise a minimum of Rs 2,000 crore through these four components of innovating financing mechanisms.

“This project does not need much land except at two stations. BMRCL has promised to complete the project in three years from now. I am hoping to see the construction work begin from April next year,” he said. He also mentioned that BMRCL will have to come up with internal resources to fund the project initially, as the funds raised through innovative model from the companies may take some time.

Kharola said the BMRCL can move faster with the project by raising funds through innovating finance models than depending on the international money lenders.